About the initiative
We have been working to improve the design of residential aged care accommodation, in response to recommendation 45 of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines were introduced on 1 July 2024 and help guide refurbishments and new residential aged care accommodation builds to ensure they:
- promote independence, function and enjoyment for residents
- support staff in the delivery of high-quality, safe, respectful and dignified care.
The principles and guidelines are:
- based on extensive consultation
- underpinned by strong evidence from our evidence review.
National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines
We are now developing guidance on designing culturally appropriate aged care homes to better meet the needs of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This resource will supplement the principles and guidelines. We are partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations to co-design the guidance.
Anyone interested in being involved is encouraged to email accommodationdesign.reform@health.gov.au.
Why it is important
The principles and guidelines focus on creating more accessible, dementia-friendly and home-like living environments. This will help improve quality of life for older people living in residential aged care and working environments for aged care staff.
Older people, especially those living with cognitive impairment or dementia, will benefit from well-designed aged care accommodation that is guided by four principles:
- Enable the person – Support people living in a place that maintains their health, wellbeing and sense of identity.
- Cultivate a home – Create a familiar environment in which people have privacy, control and feel they belong.
- Access the outdoors – Support people seeing, accessing and spending time outdoors in contact with nature.
- Connect with community – Encourage people to connect with family, friends and community, continuing to participate in meaningful activities.
Goals
The principles and guidelines aim to:
- guide residential aged care providers when refurbishing and building aged care homes
- improve quality of life for people living in residential aged care and to support safe workplaces for staff
- give older people greater confidence that the aged care home they choose will meet their needs.
Consultation
We have consulted extensively with:
- older people, including those living with dementia, their families and carers
- the aged care sector
- design and technical experts
- peak bodies, health professionals and regulatory bodies.
Consultation activities have included:
- releasing 2 discussion papers and a design survey – see the summary of feedback
- conducting interviews and focus groups
- seeking input from aged care providers about the design of their residential aged care accommodation
- releasing the draft and an online form seeking feedback
- running a design ideas competition inviting architects and designers to test and provide feedback on the draft principles and guidelines
Stakeholder feedback has helped us to refine, improve and finalise the principles and guidelines – see what we’ve heard.
Learn more
For more information, please see our fact sheets for the general public, providers and architects and designers.
View our webinar recording, including questions and answers, on improving aged care homes through design. This webinar supported the aged care sector in understanding how to adopt the National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines and the benefits of good design for residents and staff.