How We Can Rethink Care Environments Through a People-First Lens
An article produced in collaboration with the International WELL Building Institute.
Our surroundings shape how we move, connect and feel - perhaps no more profoundly than for people living with dementia. Every doorway, surface and sound can comfort or confuse; every environment has the potential to invite belonging or amplify isolation.
The design choices we make, from hospitals to homes to high streets, all have the power to support, include and provide a sense of dignity.
Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia. More than 411,000 Australians live with dementia today, a number expected to double by 2058. Globally, that figure could reach 139 million people by the 2050s. As Professor Mary Marshall, OBE, Former Director of the Dementia Services Centre, University of Stirling, explained, “Dementia as a disability is characterized by an acute sensitivity to the built and social environment.” Her insight underscores a growing understanding among designers, clinicians and policymakers alike: that design is not just about aesthetics, but about access, dignity and quality of life.
For decades, the design of aged-care environments has been shaped by medical models and institutional priorities: safety, compliance and efficiency.
But what if we could deliver all of that while also restoring a sense of home, belonging and dignity?
That’s the question guiding Hammond Innovations, an integrated initiative by HammondCare that unites research, design, technology, and partnerships to rapidly turn bright ideas into practical solutions that transform dementia, palliative, and complex care for people in need.
"The conundrum in care is that it’s provided in an institutional manner,” says Daniel Jameson, Design Lead at Hammond Innovations.
“The opportunity is to strip that away and create places where people belong.”
Designing With the Person at the Centre
Every project begins with one simple question: Would you have this in your home?
That guiding principle drives every design decision, from lighting to layout:This approach is consistent with the principles of universal design, as outlined in the WELL for residential certification program - R-C01 Universal Design; the first and only holistic, third-party verified certification program to exclusively address health and well-being in all residence types, including single-family homes and units in multifamily buildings.
Universal design empowers and enables individuals with a diverse range of abilities by improving human performance, well-being and social participation. Accessible housing can increase social inclusion and occupational achievement.
Even the smallest choices matter. In WELL for residential, R-A05 Combustion Minimization, specifically outlines the elimination of combustion-based (including gas) appliances. “Gas cooktops are familiar to many older Australians, but as induction replaces gas, we make sure recognisable cues remain, like a domestic style rangehood to help residents connect: this is a kitchen, this is home,” says Katie Formston, Head of Design, Property and Capital Works at HammondCare.
Design Principles for Everyday Spaces
Designing with dementia in mind isn’t just about care homes, it’s about the everyday places where life happens. From libraries and transport hubs to shopping centres and public buildings, thoughtful design can make a world of difference in helping people stay connected, independent and confident in their surroundings.
“Many public spaces are becoming increasingly complex to support technological advancements and consumer expectations. However, as a carer and support person for someone living in the community with dementia, I see the barriers that our public spaces exacerbate all the time. Something as simple as accessing a public bathroom can be incredibly difficult due to design choices that have been made", says Jack Noonan, Head of APAC, International WELL Building Institute.
"My loved one has been left confused, lost, and shamed in a shopping strip that he has been visiting for over thirty years; just because something small may have changed which disrupts the entire perception of that place or experience. By designing with the principles of dignity and inclusion, we can have a real impact”.
Two-thirds of people living with dementia reside in the community, which makes it essential that dementia-friendly principles extend into all the spaces we share.
Good design is universal design. Things to keep in mind include:
“Think about airport bathrooms - automatic taps, dryers, doors. Even for most of us they’re confusing,” says Jameson. “Imagine how disorienting that can be for someone living with dementia.”
A well-designed environment for dementia doesn’t need to look clinical. It should simply feel natural, familiar and easy to navigate.
From Clinical Care to Meaningful Living
Across Australia, a new generation of dementia care environments is shifting away from institutional models toward spaces that feel like home – places designed not just for care, but for life. This is inspired by an integrative design approach, where residents have a stronger voice in the development of their homes and communities, something which is a key theme of the WELL for residential feature R-C03 Integrative Design.
Taking HammondCare’s approach as an example, each household is intentionally small, home to no more than 15 residents. Bedrooms feature memory boxes filled with personal items that cue ownership and belonging. Outdoor areas are domestic and inviting and staff are multiskilled; cooking, cleaning and caring as a family member might.
A personalised memory box placed outside the resident’s room to help them easily recognise and identify their own space.
Evidence shows this model of person-centred design delivers tangible benefits. The INSPIRED Study by Flinders University found household-style environments were associated with 68% fewer hospital admissions, 73% fewer emergency visits and a 52% reduction in inappropriate medication use.
“Dignity and comfort are at the heart of everything we do,” says Jameson. “We design spaces that allow people to engage with life, not just receive care.”
Scaling Well-being Across the Globe
While Hammond Innovations is reshaping care in Australia, across the Pacific, residences like Sunrise Senior Living are proving what’s possible when well-being is scaled.
Sunrise has earned national recognition in the United States for its leadership in health, safety, sustainability and inclusion.
“Our goal is to create beautiful, comfortable spaces where people feel safe, supported, and truly at home,” said Jack R. Callison, Jr., CEO of Sunrise Senior Living.
Together, institutions like Hammond Innovations and Sunrise Senior Living illustrate a shared belief: well-being belongs to everyone.
Designing for Well-being and Dignity
As the WELL Building Standard continues to shape healthier, more equitable spaces globally, the works of Hammond Innovations and Sunrise Living shows how design can restore dignity and empower independence, whether in care homes or communities.
“We’ve long believed that the care sector and the broader built environment have much to learn from each other,” says Jameson. “The exciting future will come from working hand-in-hand with care providers, designers and organisations like IWBI, creating intergenerational, connected and dignified communities.”
Because in the end, designing for well-being isn’t about buildings. It’s about people and the simple human dignity of feeling at home.
**This piece was produced in collaboration with the International WELL Building Institute.