de Fiddes are excited to introduce you to our new blog page! This is a place where we plan to share our thoughts and reviews on design, architecture, products and the latest cutting edge research.
Our team will be posting regularly on de Fiddes projects, review new and exciting innovations, pass on to you the latest education, share and promote notes of inspiration and show you some fabulous photos from our interior fit outs. Keep up to date on latest products in the market, articles of interest and research findings from our Managing Director, Debbie de Fiddes.
Our blog will not only be an example of what keeps the team at de Fiddes committed to being at the forefront of innovation but a fun place to collect and seek ideas, advice for all things design and even just to share whatever is on our minds.
To be the first to receive our latest posts sign up to our newsletter inKIND here.
Enjoy!
Do funky design features lure skilled staff to your workplace? Not necessarily reports Libby Sanders.
People are searching for quiet or time out spaces in the face of rising work related stress. With up to 49% of the Australian workforce experiencing this situation, several organisations have recognised the need for zen-like zones and responded accordingly to support their staff to recover from cognitive fatigue and to reduce stress.
Read MoreChristmas can be a time of festivity, family gatherings, cheer and goodwill. Equally it can be a time of stress, confusion and sadness. This can be said for all of us and not just older people or those living in aged care facilities. Selecting suitable gifts for a person living in residential care can be tricky so consider gifting sensory experiences – massages, manicures, pedicures or animal visits. Or even the most valuable gift of all – your time.
Read MoreIt is widely known that people’s vision naturally changes as they age with reduced visual function and performance.
Read MoreWhat is wrong with this picture? The seat is too low, the armrests are too high and there is no room to move the feet backwards in order to be able to lean forward and get up from the chair…. It is important to be aware the impact furniture design, specification and placement can have on a person’s ability to function as independently as possible within their living environments. Here are a few considerations to assist:
Read MoreMealtimes are an opportunity for a wonderful sensory experience – delicious smells, delightful taste, enticing visuals. Mmmmm. There’s a problem if you a) can’t get to the table b) can’t locate a chair to sit down or c) it is not a seating arrangement that meets your needs. You can’t participate in one of life’s most enjoyable pleasures! However, this can be easily addressed if you consider the following:
Read MoreAs there has been a move away from environments which are institutional in appearance, we also have experienced a shift away from the plethora of high backed vinyl chairs lined up against the walls. More is now known and understood about the importance of seating and the different types of seating required in aged care environments. This segment will provide an overview of seating and we will focus specifically on dining chairs and lounge chairs in the next two editions of the newsletter.
Read MoreAcoustics in aged care is rapidly becoming a major issue. With providers opting for more hard surfaces such as vinyl flooring throughout a facility this is having a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of the residents.
Thoughtful design can reduce the impact of noise and improve the quality of our living environment. The acoustics of a space depends on the structural and interior makeup of the building and should be considered early in the design process. Noise is classified as either airborne noise, which travels through the air or impact noise through vibration.
Read MoreWe have all seen the movie “Alive Inside” and read about how good music therapy is for people living with dementia but, as I have learnt from Professor Richard Fleming and Kirsty Bennett, ideas must be followed up with evidence based research. A new study by Brown University, Rhode Island suggests that personalised music has important psychiatric benefits for people living with dementia in aged care facilities.
Read MoreIs designing spaces or products that incorporate make-believe elements within dementia care the right thing to do? Currently there seems to be much discussion around this topic and we know that make-believe could be viewed as potentially deceptive and deception is a core issue in relation to person-centered dementia care..
Read MoreRussell Foster, professor of circadian neuroscience from Oxford University, is a leading researcher in the study of sleep and cycles of the brain. Prof. Foster explains that we need exposure to light between 1000-2000 lux to keep our body clocks ticking over. Prof. Foster says that exposure to light will not only prevent sleep problems, it may also be crucial for keeping our brains in good condition...
Read MoreIncredibly important!! I recently returned from a speaking engagement at the Environments for Aging Conference in the USA. One of the presentations was by the University of Philadelphia on this particular subject.
What is Biophilia? Bio means life and philia in Greek means fondness ...
Following on from last month, we often take simple things for granted, such as knowing our way around our home or understanding where the bathroom is located. Let’s then consider an elderly person with dementia who is living in a new and unfamiliar environment; finding something as simple as a toilet outside their own bedroom can be a real problem.
Read MoreWayfinding – absolutely essential in Residential Aged Care but all too often neglected in Retirement Villages. As the average age of a Retirement Village resident is 78-80, wayfinding is just as important in that environment.
Read MoreWe recently came across a very interesting research paper, which had been presented as a Poster Presentation at the ADI Conference in Budapest. The paper was titled “Living with dementia in a nursing home, as described by persons with dementia”
Read MoreMusic makes me want to get up and dance!! When I listen to music that I love it makes me feel good but of course music can also evoke a memory that makes you feel sad. I was listening to something recently on the ABC that said dancing improves your health in many ways.
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