You can watch the virtual opening from 2:00pm today on our Facebook page or YouTube channel
Warrnambool’s Lyndoch Living is officially launching its long-awaited state-of-the-art home on Tuesday 22nd September, in a COVID-friendly virtual celebration.
Taking place online at 2:00pm today, the launch will officially open the doors of the newly redeveloped Swinton Wing, which has been designed and built incorporating the ageing in place principles for residents.
“Throughout the design of our new home, the team has undergone extensive research and consultation with experts. We have designed the home based on best practice from Dementia Australia, along with incorporating Richard Fleming’s design principles to create a better living environment for our residents. Inspiration was also drawn from the Eden Principles, which mitigate the three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom and where residents are connected to the community,” said CEO, Doreen Power.
There is a very deliberate move away from the traditional model of shared bedrooms and large communal areas. Instead, there’s been a transition to an integrated lifestyle model, with the new home featuring more intimate spaces, visual cues such as colour, material, texture and light, improved lighting and other elements designed to enhance resident orientation and wayfinding.
Every element of the design is carefully planned out, activating spaces that are authentic and relevant. The team at Lyndoch Living assist in normalising experiences such as group dining, with smaller group numbers and a comfortable environment for these activities to ensure residents remain social.
“Research across the world has shown that caring for the elderly in smaller groups helps to reduce the stress of being in an aged care facility and enables more social interaction,” Doreen said.
“At Lyndoch, our fundamental premise has always been about creating an authentic environment where our residents can live – happily, healthily and in comfort, in a way which enables them to go about their daily lives to the very best of their ability and to live a fulfilled and active life, where residents can linger as long as they like with their peers, friends and family.”
“It’s our top consideration that our wonderful residents live well while they are part of our community, feeling connected as an individual to Lyndoch Living and the Warrnambool community.”
The new building integrates the aged care principles of familiarity, distinctiveness, accessibility, connectivity, safety and individual choice to ensure a completely comfortable experience for residents.
The design also respects personal space and the dignity of each individual, through the creation of single spacious rooms and the multiple communal spaces, providing each resident with a choice of where they’d prefer to spend time.
Residents will be able to enjoy the design philosophy of placemaking, with art, distinctive and familiar spaces, landscaping, and both intimate and larger spaces, allowing the new wing to feel like home. They will also have access to external areas for engagement with nature, and an abundance of light throughout the building.
With the design echoing the local sentiment of the sea meeting the land, the textures and colours of the building were inspired by local artisans and craftspeople, bringing to the life the essence of the region.
The new building has been designed to high standards of insulation and thermal efficiency, with rainwater capture, landscaped roofs and installation of highly efficient air conditioning and lighting.
With more than 60 years of experience in aged care in Warrnambool and South West Victoria, Lyndoch Living offers a tailored approach to retirement living through its in-home services and residential aged care facilities. From disability services, respite care and rehabilitation services, to social programs and training, Lyndoch Living provides innovative ways to constantly improve the way it cares for its residents, families, clients, staff and the community.