Designing healthcare environments for People with Dementia
The Australian Government, through the Department of Health and Ageing, has commissioned the NSW/ACT Dementia Training Study Centre (DTSC) to provide advice on the design of facilities for people with dementia to healthcare services in all States and Territories in 2013.
A team of consultants, led by NSW/ACT DTSC Director Professor Richard Fleming and architect Kirsty Bennett, will provide a two-day workshop on designing dementia-friendly healthcare facilities in every State and Territory this year. These will be followed by the provision of consultancies to at least 25 hospital-based projects across Australia.
Cost: The initiative is fully funded by the Australian Government
THE WORKSHOPS
Who should attend?
Architects, health planners, facilities managers, clinical and allied health managers, health professionals and design consultants interested in designing inpatient units, emergency departments and multi-purpose services. The workshops are suitable for those wishing to improve existing facilities or who are involved in designing new buildings and facilities.
Workshop participants will be involved in discussions on:
• the 10 evidence-based principles of designing for people with dementia
• how to apply these principles to your environment, including the use of audit tools
• the contribution of lighting, outdoor spaces, signage and art works to making the environment healing and supportive for people with dementia
• how to discover and communicate what you want for your patients with dementia
Key presenters: Professor Richard Fleming and architect Kirsty Bennett, who lead the NSW/ACT DTSC’s team of consultants whose combined expertise and experience includes architecture, strategic planning, interior design, nursing, psychology, aged care quality assessment and occupational health and safety.
Keynote presentations will be made by healthcare innovators and leaders such as Kristen Whittle, Director, Bates Smart, the lead designer for the new Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, and Allen Kong, Director and Principal Architect, Allen Kong Architect, a committed architect with great depth of experience in providing facilities for the aged and people with special needs.
Workshops completed:
Sydney, NSW - 30-31 July
Melbourne, VIC - 16-17 August
Hobart, TAS - 21-22 August
Adelaide, SA – 16-17 September
Brisbane, QLD – 19-20 September
Perth, WA - 26-27 September
NSW/ACT DTSC environmental design consultancy service
The service includes consultancy for healthcare and residential care environments.
In 2012, the NSW/ACT DTSC launched Australia’s first national dementia design consultancy service for residential aged care facilities, with more than 100 facilities registering to date. This service provides workshops and on-site education, assessment and advice to aged and health care managers and architects planning new or refurbished facilities for people with dementia.
The NSW/ACT DTSC is one of five centres in Australia established by the Australian Government to improve the quality of care and support provided to people living with dementia and their families through the development and up-skilling of the dementia care workforce and the transfer of knowledge into practice.
Dementia Training Study Centres are supported by the Australian Government
