Adelaide Senior Citizens Village, SA - Architecture and healthy ageing program
The architecture of living
Architecture and healthy ageing
Adelaide Senior Citizens Village, run by the Italian Benevolent Foundation, has been awarded a Better Practice in Aged Care Award for its architecture and healthy ageing study conducted in conjunction with the University of South Australia.
The University sought views from current residents, their families, staff and managers, as well as older people living in the community, about the ideal residential aged care accommodation.
Private and communal space
Results showed that the usage of common and private areas were distinctly varied between people of differing cultural backgrounds, with those of culturally diverse backgrounds enjoying communal areas and the company of others far more than 'mainstream' residents who tended to enjoy their own space.
It was discovered that special rooms developed for quiet time or private family group meetings were not utilised. Residents preferred communal areas. As a result, the home has adapted its communal area to provide more space for people and families to come together and the 'quiet' areas adapted to become a men's room with billiard table, music room, library and snoezelen room.
Single or twin-share?
While some older and experienced staff believed that some residents enjoyed company, and that twin shared rooms still had some value, this was completely discounted in the research, with every resident enjoying their own room with private facilities. They elected to go to communal areas or seek out a friend when they wanted company.
The kitchen connection
The report recommended positioning the kitchen to make sure it is incorporated into the residents' space. At Adelaide Senior Citizens Village, there are a number of small kitchen/dining areas where meals were mainly served, not prepared. Meals were prepared in a larger kitchen in the home.
Residents said they'd like to be involved in the cooking process, interacting with kitchen staff and smelling the food during preparation. The home now prepares more meals in the smaller kitchens with residents participating in the whole process, as an alternative to a 'cooking program' as part of an activities program.
The results of this research will be used by the Italian Benevolent Foundation when they soon embark on another new development, to ensure residents' lifestyles are further enhances by their environment.
