Design psychology in Nursing Homes: Creating supportive living environments.

How interior design shapes comfort, safety and wellbeing in senior living.

Nursing homes or assisted living centre architecture and interior design have come a long way, and Australia is a world leader in creating positive environments that will support you or a loved one’s, physical and psychological needs. To help you make this hard decision when selecting a home, consider the following points. 

Social Density.

When choosing a senior living home for yourself or a loved one, it's important to consider social density to ensure a low-stress environment for residents and staff. The most important factor is a single bedroom with ensuite room. Senior living situations with multiple beds per room create high-stress environments, leading to social withdrawal from residents. Residents should also have control over their rooms. Look for room designs that allow residents to personalise their space, open windows, and control heating/cooling and lighting.  

Communal areas.

Communal areas should have moveable seating that can be arranged into different-sized groupings and ample space to regulate personal space. Keep in mind that residents might not be able to move seating on their own or need extra space to fit a wheelchair. Is there enough staff available to facilitate this?

Noise reduction.

Noise reduction is important for staff and residents in reducing stress. Acoustic insulation in bedrooms (walls and doors) and sound-absorbing surfaces in communal areas reduce echo and reverb reducing background noise to a manageable level. This will improve speech legibility and communication quality between staff and patients. 

Access to a garden.

Access to a garden reduces stress and increases emotional well-being.  Studies have shown an informal garden with sessional flowers and plants designed for socialisation and quiet areas for privacy provide the most well-being for residents and staff.

Daylight levels.

Daylight levels in interior spaces have increased well-being, health status, and satisfaction in residents and staff. Studies have shown that people with Alzheimer’s are less agitated when interiors have higher natural light exposure. 

Emmy Monash Home in Melbourne features plenty of natural light and well-designed spaces for residents.

Air quality.

Air quality in a nursing home or care facility is important, pay attention to any persistent odours, stuffiness, or mold. Ask about their air quality management practices and any technologies they use to maintain a healthy indoor environment. Air quality is covered by the Australian Standard AS 1668 Part 2 mandates that bedrooms and living rooms in aged care facilities receive 10-12L per second of outside air per person.

Staff workplace satisfaction.

Staff workplace satisfaction equates directly to care levels. As someone who has worked in healthcare, I know the happiness of staff, culture, and the physical environment relate to patient outcomes. It's important to include the experience of staff and how the interior design improves their ability to perform their job when evaluating nursing homes or assisted living centres. 

• Do the staff appear stressed or unhappy, are they engaged and interacting with the residents? Staff happiness is an important indicator of culture and happy, high-performing staff attract other quality staff. 

• Is there enough staff to support the needs of residents? 

• What is the staff turnover? 

• Are staff provided with paid ongoing training to maintain accreditation, but also upskilling in the latest technology and practices? 

• Is there ample space for staff to decompress such as tea rooms, kitchens, and facilities - showers, change rooms, and sleeping areas?  

• Are the back-of-house areas the same design quality as the resident's zone? Yes, you need to inspect these areas as well and a quality establishment would be proud to show you their back-of-house area.

As we continue to evolve our understanding of aging and care, design becomes a critical language of compassion, dignity, and human connection. The spaces created by Interior Designers are not just physical environments, but living ecosystems that support, nurture, and celebrate the human experience. Choosing the right environment for yourself or a loved one should live up to these standards. 

Ainslie.

Image reference: Gandel House at Emmy Monash Aged-Care by Bates Smart