Setting the standard: Eldercare achieves sustainability success

Eldercare’s brand new Goodwood residential aged care home is the first of its kind in Australia to achieve a six star Green Star Design Review rating with the organisation’s Chief Executive, Jane Pickering, proud to have created the new standard in aged care. 

Key points

• Green Star is an internationally-recognised Australian sustainability rating and certification system that rates buildings, communities, operational performance and interiors
• Eldercare, which operates 13 residential aged care sites across South Australia, worked with architects Brown Falconer and builders Sarah Construction to create the sustainable, modern and inviting Eldercare Goodwood
• Chief Executive Jane Pickering told Hello Leaders it has been designed to connect residents with nature, breaking down any sense of institutionalised care, while also promoting resident privacy

The 100-bed aged care home in Goodwood, located in the heart of Adelaide, cost $40 million. The state-of-the-art residence showcases high-tech safety features, best-practice model of care while also combining sustainability with comfort and liveability.

Its six star Green Star Design Review rating is an internationally recognised sustainability rating and certification. Eldercare Goodwood secured a six star rating for both the design and building itself.

Ms Pickering told Hello Leaders that 12 months of research and engagement with prospective residents, existing residents, staff and consumer groups highlighted the most important aspects of aged care. 

“People don’t want to live in a facility. They don’t want to live in an aged care home that feels like a hospital or an institution. They want a home,” she explained.

“Our research wasn’t just about their care needs. It was about what makes you feel good about going into an aged care home, what are the things you want the most. It was amazing how environmental sustainability came up as one of the top items that was important to people, particularly people aged around 60 to 70. 

“Right from the beginning we said Eldercare Goodwood has to be the best standard we can make it. That’s what we’ve created and we’re proud of that.”

The way that sustainability has been embraced is impressive to say the least. Rooftops are covered with solar panels, natural gas connections have been ignored in favour of all-electric systems while over 300,000 litres of stormwater can be collected and used in the gardens. 

Design elements like quality insulation, double glazed windows and natural ventilation will also reduce the reliance on air-conditioning in summer and help retain heat in winter. Green space is everywhere so residents can be connected with nature both indoors and outdoors.

Meanwhile, there are chairs made from recycled materials, while Australian fabrics and furniture have been purchased to reduce emissions produced through interstate or international transport. 

Establishing privacy

Residential aged care is not often associated with privacy. Large corridors, noisy common rooms and constant foot-traffic are frequent sites – at least in older buildings. 

Ms Pickering said their focus was to design a building which promoted privacy and gave residents a sense of ownership over their spaces. This sees public spaces like a theatre, conservatory and public gathering spots throughout the middle of the site.

Then, semi-public spaces such as a hairdresser, dining room for family gatherings, a gym and clinical spaces are located on the first floor. From there, each residential wing is its own neighbourhood and it’s often up to the residents who goes where. 

“We’ve created a hierarchy of privacy in the building. There are more public spaces, then we move into the resident spaces that are much smaller. The biggest areas are for 25 people and that can be divided,” Ms Pickering shared.

“It’s like a semi-private area for resident activities and socialisation and you have to be invited by the residents. It’s not a thoroughfare where anyone can walk past. Then we have wings of six or seven rooms and they are private. You cannot go into those areas unless you’re a staff member working in that wing, you’re a resident in one of those rooms, or you’re specifically invited into that area by the resident.

“The design was about creating that small household model, but this hierarchy of privacy is important for the residents so it feels like their space rather than feeling like a guest in a big institution.”

Another simple yet effective move was to give each resident suite a garden or courtyard view, an ensuite and a kitchenette with in-room tea and coffee making facilities. 

Ms Pickering said most residents wanted the opportunity to make tea or coffee the way they wanted to, and to have the chance to host friends and family independently. 

“It was important to get it right and make sure we gave the people working and living in that building the best that we could,” Ms Pickering added.

Back-end services are located in the basement, keeping domestic duties separated from the residential wings, with quick access staff-service lifts improving efficiency and flow so more time is spent with residents.

Finishing touches

There are plenty of features showcasing South Australia in the home, including recognition of some of the state’s most prominent women.

Each residential wing has been named after a renowned female figure, including the Nation’s first female prime minister, Julia Gillard; lawyer, judge and women’s rights pioneer Dame Roma Mitchell; decorated nurse Lucy Daw; women’s rights advocate and trade unionist Augusta Zadow; and leading bacteriologist Nancy Atkinson. 

“I’m a massive advocate for gender equity and recognition of women’s contribution in South Australia. I said right from the beginning to the Board I wanted to acknowledge prominent South Australian women and name the wings after them and they were right on board,” Ms Pickering said.

“Aged care is predominantly women, we look after predominantly women. Julia Gillard was happy to give us permission to use her name and profile for one of the wings and we were chuffed about that.”

Elsewhere, Ms Pickering worked with Bluethumb Art to create an environment where residents would be proud to showcase to family and friends. This includes a special commission produced by a local Aboriginal artist that tells the story of the ageing journey and how connections with family, friends and community all play a part. 

A white ribbon is threaded throughout the piece to not only signify the ups and downs of ageing, but to represent Eldercare’s commitment to the prevention of violence against women through its White Ribbon program.

With so many features on one site, Eldercare has truly set a high standard for residential aged care. It’s a standard the organisation plans to replicate in future developments. It is looking at five other sites due for redevelopment to determine what enhancements can occur, while another big project will be a retirement living redevelopment in Mount Barker.