Aged Care – “We don’t want to look like a hospital”

One of the most common things I hear from the management staff of Aged Care organisations when considering ceiling hoists, is they want the building to look and feel more like a home rather than a hospital.

Unfortunately, more often than not, the need for ceiling hoists is an after-thought, only coming into consideration after the building has already been completed, and usually in response to a WH&S matter. But by then it is too late; the room or required area is already completed, so blending a ceiling hoist into the room is difficult. At this late reactive stage, despite the genuine need for a ceiling hoist, it is either too expensive, too difficult (to shut down occupied rooms) or simply not possible due to structural limitations. Who suffers? The client, and the staff. Ultimately, the lack of forward planning and budget allowance ends up costing everyone more – in more ways than one.

Historically, this is where “the hospital look” comes in to play, and understandably sticks out in most people’s minds for all the wrong reasons. The big metal structure hanging from the ceiling looks daunting, potentially intimidating and very clinical; ‘clinical’ being the key word I want to highlight.

What if there was a way to have the best of both worlds?

Clinical and homely?

Today, many leading Aged Care providers work with their architects, builders and specialist consultants to help achieve the clinical outcomes desired. From the conception of their building through to implementation, and those important first steps of their residents able to call it “home”.

At the end of the day we must remind ourselves these buildings do serve a clinical purpose. However, unlike a hospital short stay, there is a growing expectation within the industry to create a homely, comfortable environment for residents where they can live happily for as long as they can.

Ceiling hoist design, combined with its technology and product advancements, in coordination with architects and builders, has come a long way in just the last few years. Don’t let the clinical outcomes be outweighed by memories you have of an “old ceiling hoist system”.

Remember – “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” – Albert Einstein

By Todd MacRae