Designing for aging in place.

Retrofitting an existing older home to add mobility supports in a bathroom, to improve access at entries and to widen doorways is out of reach financially to the average Australian pensioner due to the extent of works and related costs of construction required to implement.

For example, a bathroom reconfiguration alone will cost $25,000 or more as the entire room will need to be stripped to frame level and rebuilt with labour from 7+ separate licensed trades.

Since 2022, the National Construction Code of Australia has included some basic liveable housing design principles as mandatory law. The idea is to support the principle of “ageing in place” where elderly persons are able to remain living in their homes for longer as this supports positive mental health for seniors, is nationally cost effective, and is inexpensive to implement at construction stage. The changes are simple – wider entry doors, reinforcing to bathroom walls, level entry thresholds. The long-term results will save future generations not just money, but also avoid significant lifestyle disruption in later life.

4305 Design incorporates a plan for occupant ageing in place as a founding principle. We also aim to incorporate, where possible, other accessibility features in the case of unexpected life changes (anyone who lived in a highset Queenslander with a broken leg will know what we mean!).

An individual approach is required for specific needs outside of the minimum national mandatory requirements. Inclusive design has many levels of speciality, from low level ambulant to high physical dependency, or custom solutions such as visual or audible support, high durability, automation.