Leigh Place was founded on a household model of care. Originally constructed as six individual cottages along a central streetscape, the Leigh Place Model is designed to look and feel like a residential village.
Our small group accommodation, where residents share common living spaces, such as kitchen, dining room and gardens, is both familiar to our residents and evidenced by data supporting its benefits.
Our newest building, Lotus House, continues this model, albeit in a vertical form.
The Aged Care Royal Commission made various recommendations regarding the future of aged care, including the implementation of a more person-centred, flexible approach to care. One of the significant recommendations was to explore and expand alternatives to traditional institutional care, including models that are more community-based and resemble a “household model.”
The “household model of care” generally refers to a setting in which residents live in smaller, more intimate environments that resemble a home rather than a large, institutionalised facility. This model emphasises creating a home-like atmosphere where residents have more control over their daily lives, routines, and interactions, which is believed to enhance their dignity and quality of life.
In several sections of the report, there is an emphasis on the small-scale, household-based model of care. This model is seen as offering a more supportive and personalised environment compared to large, institutional-style facilities. The idea is to create care settings that reflect a typical home environment, where a group of residents live together in a community-like setting, with staff supporting them in a way that fosters a sense of autonomy and belonging.
The report highlighted that residents living in smaller groups can have more meaningful interactions with each other and with care staff, leading to better outcomes in terms of physical, emotional, and social well-being.
This model was seen as part of a broader vision to promote autonomy, self-determination, and greater control for older Australians in their care.
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