Stay longer in your own home
From calls for housing policy reform to height-friendly toilets, the foundations are being laid for better housing for seniors and people with dementia.
National Seniors Australia (NSA) has long championed policy reform to improve the supply of age-friendly housing across the nation.
The bottom line is that building regulations need to be updated to cater for the needs of an ageing population.
Architects and builders also need to come up to speed – and there are signs that are signs the construction sector could be changing.
More on that later, but here’s what NSA is doing to improve the safety and comfort of housing for seniors.
Older Australians should have more housing choices. So, a key focus of the campaign is to make downsizing into age-friendly housing more available and affordable.
Ageing can mean not wanting to mow a big lawn or keep up with cleaning and tidying a now-empty large family home.
We are advocating for the removal of the barriers to downsizing.
One of these is the lack of suitable and accessible housing for older people to move to, in areas where they feel comfortable and safe to live. The other is the lack of suitable accommodation for seniors to rent.
Houses are being built for families, not for older people. We want the government to change the “accessible housing” design standards in the National Construction Code (NCC) to make new housing age-friendly and facilitate more downsizing options and incentivise builders to step up.
More and more seniors are having to access the rental market and, even if they can secure accommodation, it is unlikely to be suitable for an older person.
NSA is pushing for a capital grants scheme for the construction of suitable rental housing. The scheme should incorporate universal design principles, reducing the risk of falling, hospitalisation, or premature entry into residential care.
Read more about this and other innovative policies in our Better Housing Campaign here.
Victorian builder, Mark Burnham, has worked in the construction industry for more than 35 years.
But it was his own family’s journey that inspired his new generation of homes. Mark found himself with:
A father who needed care for over a decade
A younger brother living with autism
A family committed to supporting people with disability.
Trying to cater for his family, Mark saw how traditional housing fails to meet real-life needs. So, he decided to design something better.
Now, he builds houses that have:
Zero-step entry
No ramps and no thresholds, just smooth, level access throughout
Wider spaces for easier movement
Cavity sliding doors, extra-wide hallways, and rooms suitable for mobility aids
Built-in care features, including ceiling reinforcement for a future hoist and handrails in all the right places.
Other features include accessible ensuite bathrooms, a scooter bay by the entry, easy-to-use kitchens, and drawers instead of hard-to-reach cupboards – all at waist-height, reducing the need to bend and crouch.
The houses also have smart emergency system linked to the phone.
Some aged care homes are moving to more suitable accommodation that caters for residents with dementia.
There are precious few houses and apartments built in the housing market, however. People with dementia, and those living with and caring for them, are often forced to retro-fit an existing house to better suit their needs. But where to start?
There is a wealth of good ideas and resources available through Dementia Australia, which recently launched an interactive video offering straightforward and effective solutions.
Here’s are some tips from Dementia Australia’s Creating a Dementia Friendly Home web page:
Install slip-resistant mats or tiles with a matte finish to avoid glare
Use a water-safe chair in the shower or bath and a walk-in shower base
Use bathroom-safe heat lamps to keep the room warm
Install a toilet that is at a comfortable height and easy to use
Make the toilet seat a different colour to its surroundings
Clearly label “hot” and “cold” on taps and use accessible crosshead or lever taps
Store things you use every day, like your toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, and deodorant, in one place so you can easily find them
Install handrails beside the bath, shower, and toilet
Use a hand-held shower hose
Remove or securely store any medications
Use night lights or motion-sensor lights.
If you can’t install features in different colours, use coloured tape to mark them.
Dementia Australia CEO, Professor Tanya Buchanan, emphasises the importance of supporting people with dementia, their families, and carers in maintaining independence for as long as possible.
“For the more than 433,300 Australians living with dementia, everyday activities can get harder,” she said.
“This guide can help, with practical tips such as clearing walkways or using contrasting colours when setting the table.”
Related reading: Inside Ageing, Start to Finish Homes, NSA
