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small-scale, covid-safe living for older people north of adelaide
A desire for ‘home-like’ living in older age will see the first small-scale residential care home, built in South Australia. Located adjacent the Lyell McEwin Hospital in Elizabeth South, ACH Group’s Healthia will offer eight small residential care houses with a focus on contemporary best practice, personalised, dementia-friendly care in a familiar and domesticstyle setting. ACH Group CEO Frank Weits said the organisation was proud to launch this state-of -the-art residential care home which will allow older people in the north of Adelaide to feel connected to their community and involve themselves in the natural flow of daily routine in the home.
Residents in each of the 12 bed houses will have access to integrated services to support them living in their own homes, while additional on-site services include a café, hairdresser and resident gym. Reviewed by internationally regarded health design specialists, Health Projects International, Healthia will pioneer COVID-safe infection control measures. “Design features to support COVIDsafe care practices have been at the forefront in the planning of Healthia,” Mr Weits said.
The design includes larger communal living spaces to allow for social distancing, increased fresh air circulation, and designated one-way entry and exit points to each house to reduce the spread of infection. In addition, doors and taps will be automated wherever possible, and antimicrobial products will feature more prominently than has been seen previously.” The project is expected to be open to residents in late-2022.
“We recognise that the northern metropolitan Adelaide region is the fastest growing region for older people in South Australia,” he said.
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Images: Artist impressions of Healthia at Elizabeth South.
