Redesigning care for a changing health and aged care landscape

Hammond Innovations is partnering with aged care providers on new approaches to design, grounded in experience and evidence

HammondCareJanuary 29, 2026

0 4 minutes read

Health and aged care in Australia are evolving faster than ever. People are living longer, with more complex healthcare needs, while dementia is reshaping clinical priorities and the design of care environments.

For leaders, clinicians, policy influencers and architects, the question is no longer whether change is needed, but how quickly we can adapt.

At Hammond Innovations, we’re embracing this challenge – partnering across the sector to share learnings and help shape what comes next.

Drawing on more than 30 years of national and international leadership in dementia, palliative and complex care, Hammond Innovations brings together expertise from the Dementia Centre.

By combining clinical research, operational insight, evidence-informed design and hands-on experience, we’re committed to one mission: shaping better care for those in need.

A system under pressure needs evidence-led solutions

Australia’s national peak bodies are clear: older people’s needs are changing, and the system must respond.

Daniel Gannon, the executive director of the Retirement Living Council said new models are needed.

“As industry leaders, Hammond Innovations understands what the data is telling us. Australians are living longer, but not always healthier lives.

“With dementia now the leading cause of death, aged care can no longer sit alongside healthcare as a separate pillar – the two are inseparable. What gives us confidence is seeing models that meet people where they are, respond to complexity with humility, and evolve as expectations rise.”

This shift demands more than policy tweaks; it requires new approaches to design, workforce capabilities, and partnerships grounded in experience and evidence. This is where Hammond Innovations steps in.

Retirement Living Council exploring how the small household model and innovative design can add value for future retirement village settings, with Hammond Innovations general manager Marie Alford.

Bringing clinical excellence and design intelligence together

Health and aged care organisations are turning to Hammond Innovations to navigate complexity confidently. What sets us apart is our unique blend of clinical knowledge, behavioural understanding, design thinking, and a deep appreciation of how older people and those with dementia experience care environments.

Barossa Village: a partnership shaping regional excellence

What began as a request from Barossa Village for dementia-informed design advice has evolved into an organisation-wide transformation.

Hammond Innovations has helped shape Barossa’s Heritage Park Precinct vision, introducing Australia-first approaches to dementia-informed independent living, urban design, wayfinding, and connected precinct living.

The influence goes far beyond buildings, impacting how teams and the community understand what’s possible for people living with dementia. Ben Hall, the CEO of Barossa Village, worked with us because of the range of skills we bring to the table.

“We chose Hammond Innovations because of their rare ability to bring clinical excellence, design intelligence and deep humanity into the same conversation,” he said.

Elderbloom: From awareness to real change

Elderbloom’s journey began when their CEO, Rory Fryters, attended a Hammond Innovations Dementia Design School. Working with us helped them make the right choices.

“The depth of knowledge, experience and practical insight was immediately clear … Their involvement has been genuinely impactful and is helping us make stronger, more informed design decisions,” Mr Fryters said.

He also highlighted the value of having an evidence-informed voice at the table:

“Daniel Jameson (Hammond Innovations’ Dementia Design Lead) consistently challenges us to consider how design choices impact people living with dementia, while helping us apply the national Aged Care Design Principles practically. There is always something new to learn – having someone with professional experience adds real value.”

Now, Elderbloom’s partnership with Hammond Innovations guides their plans for safer, more intuitive environments that prioritise dignity, independence and wellbeing.

Anglicare Sydney: Enhancing resident care through independent assessment

Anglicare Sydney also benefited from Hammond Innovations’ approach, demonstrating the value of independent, resident-focused assessment in driving quality improvement:

“Hammond Innovations’ independent assessment across several homes provided fresh, thoughtful insights into the lived experience of residents and the everyday practice of care in Anglicare’s homes. Their respectful approach added value and identified opportunities to deepen comfort, dignity and connection. The reflections will support our ongoing commitment to strengthening care quality,” said Sonali Pinto, who is executive general manager, clinical governance, at Anglicare Sydney.

Transforming care through practical, scalable innovation

Hammond Innovations is more than a consultancy – it’s an innovation engine for the sector. Our work spans:

Environmental design audits and clinically informed reviews
Built-form and precinct-wide strategies
Workforce capability programmes
Service transformation and model of care development
Practical design guidance aligned to national standards and evidence-based practice, drawing on HammondCare’s 30+ years of delivering the small household model.

Everything is rooted in evidence and shaped through real-world experience across household-style dementia care, hospital units, retirement living and community-based supports.

For leaders in health and aged care, the benefit is clear: Hammond Innovations bridges the gap between research insights and what actually works on the ground, making a real difference for those living in these spaces.

Closing the knowledge gap: Dementia design schools and consultancy

Our Dementia Design Schools and consultancy projects are among Hammond Innovations’ most sought-after offerings.

Consultancy support ranges from one-day workshops to ongoing strategic projects, empowering professionals to apply evidence-based principles directly to their sites. Through targeted training or hands-on guidance, we enable organisations to make practical, scalable improvements to their environments.