A RAFT of Australian companies have been hailed for their innovative work in the aged care residential sector.
Seven organisations were named as finalists at the fifth Eldercare Innovation Awards in Singapore recently.
The awards - a highlight in the aged care calendar - shine a light on outstanding aged care organisations across the Asia Pacific region.
Synovum Care's new Bellmere community in Caboolture, Queensland, was named Facility of the Year - Independent Seniors Living for providing "the best independent living environment for older adults to age well with access to care and services".
The inclusive small-scale living community, which is set to open this August, has 17 small scale houses (each with seven ensuite bedrooms) in six streets designed to emulate a typical Australian community, complete with town square and 'local shops' for the elderly and those living with a diagnosis of dementia.
The people working in the town square will be trained to understand and support the needs of the residents.
Lifeview Residential Care took home the top award for Best Hospitality of Care for its Food Appreciation Program.
The program is designed to enhance the dining experience and quality of living for older adults.
Lifeview CEO Madeline Gall said creating a menu that is "exciting, nutritious, on budget and most of all, embraced by residents is an ongoing challenge" and that the program was about giving independence and choice back to the resident.
"The Lifeview Food Appreciation Program is all about asking, listening, consulting and where needed change," she said. The program enables and encourages residents to create their own menus, with the supply of their own family recipes, as well as giving feedback on presentation and the overall quality of the food service.
Lifeview was also a finalist in two other categories - Best Dementia Care Program for its Art Therapy program and Best Silver Architecture along with CHT Architects for the upcoming Lifeview Marigold development.
International architecture and design firm ThomsonAdsett's Streeton Park retirement village in Melbourne was the winner in the Best Silver Architecture category.
Taking its name from Arthur Streeton, one of Australia's most celebrated artists, Streeton Park is designed as the country's first retirement living village for arts patrons.
Located a short walk from the Heide Museum of Modern Art and overlooking the Yarra River in Melbourne the recently completed $40m project features 85 independent living apartments, alongside a business centre, fine dining restaurant, sports bar, salon and wellness centre.
In the field of dementia care, Mark Moran Group and the Salvation Army Aged Care Plus were both named winners.
The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus 'Making Moments Matter' was named Best Dementia Care Philosophy winner, for its care model concept for older adults with dementia. Mark Moran Group's SOL Escape - Bucket List Adventure was named Best Dementia Care Program.
Thomas Holt Aged Care's innovative LiveCare360 online platform was named winner in the Best Technology for Operational Efficiency category.
The network and communications technology, working with sensors and smartwatches that residents can wear allow Thomas Holt's Livecare 360° platform to know, at any given time, the location and wellbeing of its residents.
IRT Group's Kemira facility at William Beach Gardens near Wollongong was awarded the Innovation of the Year - Service Implementation prize.
Kemira is a specially designed community for ageing people with an intellectual disability and their primary carers. It includes 12 villas, a community centre and five-bed respite centre.
