The National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines have been introduced. They outline practical changes aged care providers can make to improve residents' quality of life and to better support aged care workers.
The new resource puts the needs of older people first and helps aged care providers to create accessible and dementia-friendly spaces through design.
Design changes can give older people, including those with dementia, a sense of home, better access to the outdoors and connection with their community.
The Principles and Guidelines are in an easy-to-read format with drawings, scenarios and checklists. They include simple, low-cost changes for existing homes, through to more substantial features for new buildings.
The Principles and Guidelines have been:
- created in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
- created with feedback from a broad range of stakeholders, including older people, their families and carers, the aged care sector and design and technical experts.
- referenced in the Final Report of the Aged Care Taskforce in reference to the need for high-quality accommodation.
- tested in a recent aged care design ideas competition.
Explore the National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines to learn what good design in aged care looks like.
Learn more about how we're improving aged care accommodation.
