Abstract
Considering the increase in age and the potential for cognitive decline among the elder population, moving into a residential aged care facility may be the best choice when ageing in place can no longer fulfil their needs. It has been more than decades since person-centred care was first introduced to Australia by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC). However, healthcare buildings, as crucial infrastructure for ensuring efficient workflow and a comfortable environment, often fall short of the ideal. Unlike other building types, healthcare buildings such as hospitals or aged care facilities need to carefully consider decisions on maintenance, renovation, or reconstruction due to their specialty. Although there are some research papers on the refurbishment of hospitals, very few studies have focused specifically on this topic regarding residential aged care facilities.This study aims to identify the drivers behind aged care providers’ renovation decisions and further explore the interrelationships between existing ageing-friendly design practices, renovation project management, and the decision-making process. The background research and literature review are supported by three theoretical pillars: design, project management, and decision-making. A mixed-method approach was adopted for this research study. A questionnaire was conducted with 327 respondents to collect quantitative data, and 14 participants were interviewed to collect qualitative data. Both datasets were grouped into three categories: aged care providers, designers, and project managers, in order to compare data based on the diverse professional perceptions of stakeholder groups.
The findings of this study identified the three most essential drivers for decision-making as budget, regulatory compliance, and operational and workflow efficiency. Results also indicated that involving too many stakeholders in decision-making meetings is the largest obstacle to effective decision-making. Due to differences in professional perceptions and positions held in the project, results varied among stakeholder groups. The study also provides a better understanding of the implications of certain design guidelines in the market, offers policymakers insights into end-users’ perceptions to review their existing design guidelines, and lays a foundation for a potential decision-making tool for aged care providers. Some unexpected findings highlight the necessity for future research on similar topics.
Date of Award | 2025 |
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Original language | English |
Supervisor | Daniela Ottmann (Supervisor), Dane Miller (Supervisor) & Nima Talebian (Supervisor) |