Background
Australians have one of the highest life expectancies in the world, with the current estimate sitting at 83.5 years. While a long life is certainly something worth celebrating, living independently and in comfort in later life is what most of us hope for. With more than 7,000 older Australians living in South Australia, Helping Hand – a non-profit organisation providing residential living – recently embarked on its latest project, the Golden Grove Aged Care development. Located just 20km from Adelaide’s CBD, the three-storey Golden Grove Residential care home would provide locals with the highest level of care and a uniquely independent lifestyle. Boasting a prime location opposite The Grove Shopping Centre, residents could expect beautiful, light-filled rooms, as well as an enviable range of services, including an indoor/alfresco café, hair salon, health services and bar.
Challenge
For Victoria Sands, a member of the Walter Brooke Architectural team, a key challenge for Golden Grove was marrying style and safety. “There’s certainly a balance of functionality and care methods”, explains Sands. “We have to consider infection control, accessibility and risk mitigation, while remembering that we’re creating a home that must look and feel welcoming and stylish”.
Nick Larby, Manager of Property Services for Helping Hand, agrees:
“It’s crucial to use the highest standard products in aged care. We need to ensure that products, particularly in bathrooms – which can carry greater fall risks – consider safety without compromising on aesthetics”.
“...they’re [Caroma] constantly investing in innovation means that when we make suggestions about how products can be modified, they’re as excited about it as we are.”
Solution
Having worked closely with Helping Hand on previous projects, Caroma were the first choice to supply bathroom products throughout Golden Grove’s 110 residential rooms: but with an innovative twist! Further to a brainstorming session, Larby raised the idea of incorporating the removable drop-down armrests and nurse call button to Caroma’s Care 800 accessible toilet suite. What followed was a collaboration between Caroma and aged care solution-provider, Customtel, resulting in all 110 resident toilets across the facility being successfully modified to feature the armrests and in-built call button.
Complemented by Caroma’s Opal 920 and Opal 720 shelf basins, Golden Grove residents now benefit from bathrooms that meet the highest standards in aged care safety and accessibility, while keeping the clean lines and modern finishes for which Caroma is recognised.
For Larby, working with Caroma brings an unmatched level of confidence to Helping Hand projects. “We know that Caroma is the market leader but, beyond that, they know exactly what we need. When we liaise with Caroma about new projects, they make suggestions about additional or new features without us even having to ask. The fact that they’re constantly investing in innovation means that when we make suggestions about how products can be modified, they’re as excited about it as we are. That’s why they’re so attuned to the needs of the aged care sector”.
