Yackandandah Health is taking a different approach to care with its intergenerational home which has 16 residential aged care rooms upstairs and 10 apartments for people of all ages on the ground floor.
Known as the Yackandandah model this approach aims to better unite aged care residents with the community.
Annette Nuck, Yackandandah Health chief executive said following community consultation, that had identified that the independence of residents was a priority, they had broken away from the “medical model” of aged care. Whilst excellent medical care will be provided the model will deviate from strict schedules giving residents more choice and independence and adapting to their individual needs.
Designed by JWP Architects from Wodonga the residential aged care floor will consist of two homes with eight people living in each.
The building which incorporates private views from each of the residential aged care rooms features two wings that take advantage of solar power and showcase design features that utilise the natural climate to regulate the buildings’ temperature thus reducing the need for supplementary heating and cooling.
The next stage of the Yackandandah Model will be the creation of shared spaces to connect the community with the aged care residents.
There are plans for a childcare centre on the site in early 2019 and the organisation has recently received funding for a care sanctuary for the whole community connecting people to animals and the land.
