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When building aged care facilities, commercial building companies need to consider all the best elements and innovations to create a welcoming and accessible environment. Interestingly, this involves making adaptions and additional fittings to better suit the comfort of residents and the needs of the staff.

As a leading, commercial building company, the committed experts at S & B Lamble Builders recognise that incorporating custom design elements and assistive technology can go a long way to improve the unique needs of an aged care facility.

The increased importance of wayfinding and accessibility

While neutral palettes are an ongoing timeless trend for many residential homes, you are unlikely to find this refined palette in many aged care facilities. Colours act as a great wayfinding cue for elderly residents, particularly people with dementia, and of course, many older people have visual impairments such as macular degeneration or loss of central or peripheral vision. This makes including contrasting colours on walls and bench tops so important to commercial building companies for the added depth perception.

It’s important to consider that brighter colours are highly visible, while lighter hues like blue and lavender are more difficult for elderly people to see and often appear grey. Colour or specific patterns can be a great tool for wayfinding by using different colours to create separate zones and establish a sense of familiarity.

Accessibility is also integral to the comfort of residents in aged care facilities. This requires the installation of handrails, non-slip surfaces, and ramps alongside clear signage in large, clear fonts. The department of health also recommends hallways and paths to be at least two metres wide to allow two wheelchairs to comfortably pass each other. Wider thoroughfare also helps staff easily and quickly move any medical equipment as necessary.  Another aspect that can assist with both accessibility and wayfinding is to furnish high traffic areas with comfortable seating corners, allowing elderly residents to take a rest as needed.

Assistive Technology

While there are many fittings to consider when designing the ideal aged care facility, another aspect that benefits both residents and staff members is integrating assistive technology and automation in the early stages of the build. Innovative technology can make a drastic difference to the comfort of older residents and frees up staff for more important tasks.

Automations such as motion-activated lights between the bedroom and bathroom can help to prevent falls and add a sense of independence. Appliances like smart stoves with automatic shutoffs can also prevent accidental fires and automatic taps allow forgetful older residents to walk away from running taps without wasting water. For additional safety, doors with sensors can also limit wandering residents from accessing staff only areas allowing private spaces for staff to relax and safe areas for storage of the medication.

There are also automation and technology that can be integrated by the commercial building company to improve the comfort of the residents. Time activated blinds that allow natural light to fill the room can also create a more welcoming environment during the daylight hours, without requiring staff to open all the blinds throughout the building. Climate control throughout the resident’s bedrooms will also increase their sense of comfort.  

Any screens and multimedia installed throughout the build, such as nurse call systems, should include large screens and screen readers to assist with text. Any assistive screens or multimedia technology should all include a simple user interface to be easy to use for residents and could also prove useful to staff for accessing medical information as needed.

Avoiding an uncomfortable, institutional style

Avoiding the appearance of an institutional building and designing for resident enjoyment is important to any leading commercial building company. This includes minimising the use of long, dull hallways and maximising the number of entrances to closed-off garden spaces.

Aged care facilities should also include accommodations for end-of-life care, which may include wide doors in bedrooms to allow bedridden residents to be wheeled outside for outdoor enjoyment. Maximising the views outside, particularly in dining areas, adds natural light and a sense of relaxation. It can also be beneficial for the fencing to be discrete and concealed by landscaping so that the space can feel more open. Activity areas and spaces for visiting families are also important to consider when designing an aged care building. This could include a lawn bowl area, added lounge rooms and sheltered, private outdoor seating.

Ready to build with a dedicated commercial building company?

S & B Lamble Builders approach each commercial build as a unique project with a superior level of workmanship. With over 35 years of experience across Melbourne and regional Victoria, our team specialise in building aged care facilities that prioritise comfort and enjoyment.
The professional team of our commercial building company are ready to help you through the construction process from the planning and design stages so you can rest assured that you’re receiving quality care at every step of your commercial build.

Please feel free to submit a tender through our site to turn your vision into a reality! To discuss your commercial build with our expert team, give us a call on (03) 5941 8135 or fill out our online contact form today.

It can be hard to construct an engaging aged care facility and so many times they can all end up looking too similar. Here at S & B Lamble Builders, we believe a solid aged care facility starts with a creative spark and the ambition to build something that will simultaneously stand out and serve to benefit the occupants. That’s why for today’s blog, our commercial builders in Melbourne are going to detail a few ways that activities can be encouraged through the construction of the building.

Outdoor activities

Encouraging the residents to contribute to community gardens or take walks for exercise is one of the best features you can add to an aged care facility. Building easily accessible areas with heaps of standing room where communal gardens/veggie patches can be placed are essential in encouraging this activity. If the area is too cramped then it may deter some residents from getting involved as it can be quite daunting otherwise.

Planning out interesting walking paths is crucial to encouraging exercising. Keep in mind when we say interesting we don’t mean complex – they should be fairly simple to follow but they should also be more than straight lines up and down. Try to introduce interesting features like small flowers on the borders or even arches at checkpoints to create excitement along the route.

In addition to the above two options, medium to large-sized plazas create great spaces for general group or solo activities as well as a place for friends to gather and families to visit. These plazas can have various additional elements such as water features or fixed benches to further motivate people to use the space. Additionally, they make great areas for BBQ’s and outdoor cooking activities – as well as encouraging the residents to eat outside and enjoy the weather.

Indoor activities

Let’s start with the lounge area. This space should be quite open to facilitate any visiting acts such as plays or musicians whilst also taking into account seating for a decent number of residents. Consider natural lighting as well – it’s a much better option than artificial lighting (especially when it comes to the eyes) and can be used advantageously by planning for skylights or a myriad of strategically placed windows that cover the area.

Even something as simple as walking indoors should be encouraged – especially since the weather won’t always allow for outdoor activities. With this in mind, there should be as few inclines/declines or staircases throughout the hallways to make it easier for residents to manage the walks. However, if these elements are unavoidable – then sufficient hand railings should be installed in these areas.

To further improve their experience, the hallways should go beyond the generic, monotonous aesthetic that is so widely used and instead adopt some distinctive designs and wallpapers. Along with clearly marked hallways, this will help the residents to distinguish where they are in the building as they’ll be able to associate certain aspects with certain areas. Including windows in some frequency is also great for the natural light and may also make the residents feel more comfortable. 

There’s always more that can be done to the dining room. A large and neatly organised room is essential to help the residents socialise with each other whilst ensuring they’re comfortable and not cramped. The space can also double as an area for activities such as dancing lessons. Simply move the dining furniture to the side and you’ve got yourself a great space for undergoing a number of indoor activities.

Are you looking for commercial builders in Melbourne?

Our commercial builders are no strangers to constructing the ideal aged care facility in Melbourne. With over 35 years of industry-experience, S & B Lamble Builders is the perfect firm to bring your next commercial construction project to life. We specialise in a myriad of building types such as aged care facilities, wineries, education facilities and retail spaces.

Our commercial builders and fully licensed and trained – meaning they can handle any commercial plan you throw at them and will deliver a truly impressive end-product that excels in both build-quality and visual aesthetic. Why risk it? Use a trusted and professional firm for your next commercial project.

If you’d like to get in touch with our commercial builders in Melbourne, then please call (03) 5941 8135 or fill out the contact sheet on our website.

Architecture has come a long way to the point where even the most conventional workplaces are starting to introduce some aesthetic flair and elements into their structure. As custom commercial builders, we’ve seen and built some pretty impressive buildings that have really challenged the norm of what a professional workplace should look like. The days of eye-straining fluorescent lighting and compartmentalised cubicles are over – with natural lighting and sustainable solutions paving the way of the modern office space. Let’s take a look at some of the key elements that could boost productivity and encourage a healthier working environment.

Open spaces

The typical workplace image has always seen a mass of cubicles occupying the office floor – which has also been accompanied by a monotonous and sometimes unhappy feeling. In recent years we’ve seen a change to that image with open offices eliminating the borders that separate co-workers. This encourages a healthier and social-driven workspace whilst still maintaining optimal performance. If the employees are happy then they’ll work faster and more efficiently.

You can still have closed offices for certain members or senior staff – and the open-floor concept can be customised to suit several shapes and sizes. You may even opt for large communal desks instead of individual ones. Employees should have sufficient room to perform their duties, though, as not to feel cramped and uncomfortable.

Lighting – the natural solution

Fluorescent lighting has long had negative effects on our eyes in the office – inciting such issues such as migraines or strained eyes. One of the biggest issues of fluorescent lighting is the flickering – which happens so fast that most people don’t even notice it. But some people do notice it – which can lead to health issues. If you’re looking for an artificial solution to this problem, then LED lighting is generally a much better option as they’re more energy-efficient, easier on the eyes, last longer and don’t produce heat. 

Sometimes, though, the best solution is the natural one. Injecting some natural light via windows or skylights into your office is one of the best ways to not only light up the space but also improve the productivity and wellbeing of employees – this includes reducing symptoms such as eyestrain by up to 84%. If it’s within budget, then maybe an outdoor patio/balcony area where employees can enjoy a quick break or their lunch. These can be quite unique and attractive elements for high-rise office buildings especially – which don’t usually have such features.

Go green

Our custom commercial builders believe that putting a strong emphasis on plants and greenery in the workplace is a sure way to boost productivity as well as create a stylish and impressive modern space. In addition, greenery in the workplace will also promote a healthier and happier atmosphere. Part of this is because trees produce fresh oxygen which just gives the office space a fresher ecosystem. As well as large-scale, permanent pieces that can be integrated into the building itself – employees will also be encouraged to bring in their own desk plants and care for them.

Adaptable spaces

You might just read this and think “well isn’t that what a boardroom is for?” and you are right – but a traditional, corporate boardroom may not suit your particular type of business or it might even be too rigid. An adaptable space could have a variety of lounges/couches or small stools in it to create a truly relaxed collaborative space for team meetings, projects the occasional ad-hoc work or as a break from the main workspace. If you only have enough space for one of these rooms then you can still add a boardroom in the centre of it – otherwise, a separate room can still act as a traditional boardroom if it’s necessary.

Take advantage of technology

Technology is only growing more accessible, faster and bolder. So, failing to embrace it in a new office would be a mistake. From in-wall tablets to no longer requiring bulky PC’s – there truly are a plethora of elements that can be explored when it comes to technology. A lot of modern and new professions can be handled on laptops and tablets and thus designing desks and seating arrangements to facilitate desktop machines may not be necessary. If you can gather an understanding of your business’ requirements, then you’ll be able to make the best decision.

Are you looking for custom commercial builders in Melbourne?

S & B Lamble Builders have 35 years of experience constructing high-calibre custom commercial projects and will work with you to ensure your dream of a modern office is realised.

If you’d like to get in touch with our custom commercial builders, then please do not hesitate to fill out the contact sheet on our website or call (03) 5941 8135 today.