BackgroundBuilding design features of residential homes typically follow a medical model in design. This design often includes ‘grab rails’ in common areas to assist older persons with their mobility. This however provides an institutionalised feel rather than a home like environment. Contemporary building design can engineer out these institutionalised falls prevention measures and result in contemporary features that reduce falls incidence.Description of problemThe instance of falls in the elderly are a major contributing factor to physical decline in health status and subsequent increase of physical care needs in a residential aged care environment. The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus has adopted a person centred approach to building design to ensure the living environment is more homely. The building design has engineered rest points and other design features which has substantially reduced the incidence of falls in the elder population group within the environment.ResultsResults have indicated a reduction in falls, an increase in physical agility, mobility and dexterity in combination with allied health intervention models. These results have been consistently reviewed and tested experientially over two recent aged care home commissioning of similar size, nature and resident functional status.ConclusionsThe strategic design of the living environment can assist with an aesthetically pleasing home like environment for the older person living in residential aged care whilst substantially reducing falls risk. This outcome impacts on quality of life experience and satisfaction of the older person in the residential care environment.

BackgroundStaffing wellness and physical capacity to undertake care tasks are essential to ensuring a resident/consumer focussed approach to care delivery. The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus implemented a staff exercise program with the intention of improving workplace culture and wellness amongst our staff. The program involves two streams of the workforce – direct care givers and administration/office based staff.Description of ProblemThe workforce in our organisation identified a higher than average injury rate than industry norm. Our staff were experiencing higher injury rates as a result of undertaking manual handling activities. The most common approach is to ‘fix the person’, a reactive measure applied once an injury has occurred. This is considered a medical management approach whereby the employer reacts to an injury and the treatment required, and then manages the return to work process. An alternative strategy to reduce or prevent work related musculoskeletal pain and disorders may be achieved by increasing an employee’s physical capacity through exercise training interventions.ResultsThe positive effects of the program are a decrease in Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate and a decrease in Injury Notifications of staff resulting from manual handling injuriesResults for staff have shown increase in satisfaction which is directly related to improvements in wellness and increased dexterity. Happy and Healthy staff who sustain less physical injury as a result of manual handling tasks in the aged care work environment result in improved manual handling techniques utilised in physical care for residents. This program has significantly reduced staff injury and resulted in an increased retention of staff and greater continuity of care for residents.ConclusionsThe implementation of the program has had a significant effect on qualitative measures such as satisfaction and resulted in measured reduction of lost time injuries and frequency rates. The anecdotal experience indicates the program has been successful in enhancing a safety management approach in a health care environment.