NDRD

1

Group homes may necessitate the delivery of support for domestic tasks (e.g. laundry, cleaning) for multiple tenants – consider tenant preference for targeted individual support or nominated individual domestic activity times to build participation.

2

Consideration of secure storage areas will be necessary (e.g. medication, health information) – storage may be located in a dedicated support staff space, which may also offer a private area for onsite overnight support.

3

Human supports may be complemented by use of assistive technology (refer Assistive Technology notes also).

4

The kitchen may become an area of heavy use, and necessitate support for a number of people with disability to participate in meal preparation. Consider designing to accommodate access by a range of users and support persons.

5

A separate pantry room/space can allow graded access to food if required.

6

Dedicated accessible space will be needed for storage and charging of support equipment (e.g. portable hoist; wheelchair; mobile shower commode).

7

The person in receipt of support should be assisted, wherever possible, to participate in the recruitment and training of support staff.

8

Access to outdoor living may offer retreat spaces for tenants to manage behavioural support needs or facilitate privacy/reduced stimulation.

9

In group living, options for privacy may be limited to some living spaces, outdoor areas, or a person’s bedroom (which is also where support is delivered).

10

Support staff are required to move across different areas of a group home to deliver support to multiple tenants – consider requirement for urgent delivery of support in the built and technology design (e.g. circulation, emergency response).

11

Provision of a number of accessible bathrooms or powder rooms will be necessary in a group home so personal care support may be delivered to more than one tenant at a time.

12

Reliance on human supports may be reduced via the consistent use of external cognitive aids (e.g. checklists, orientation materials, prompts).

13

Interior corridors and exterior spaces can be useful for physical maintenance and capacity building programs related to health and wellbeing.

14

When body fluids require management, minimise risk of cross infection by individualising support (e.g. individual laundry, enteral feeding equipment, continence management).