A new, purpose‑built research facility in Melbourne’s south-east has harnessed innovative technology and design to help older Australians and people with disabilities build the confidence and skills to live independently at home, and avoid unplanned hospitalisation.
The Independent Living Laboratory and Mobility Garden is one of six research simulation facilities in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region by the National Centre for Healthy Ageing (NCHA), a partnership between Bayside Health Peninsula and Monash University.
They include an Intergenerational Playground encouraging children and adults to connect through STEM activities, Ageing Well Clinics promoting healthy ageing in the community, a Smart Ward improving patient care and experience in hospitals, a Multipurpose Research Facility for physical rehabilitation research and a Digital Library improving healthcare communication.
The Independent Living Laboratory looks like a typical home, but behind the scenes it is equipped with cutting-edge assistive technology.
These include life-sized robotics to promote group rehabilitation programs, AI-enabled glasses to assist people with memory issues, and detection systems to prevent falls or identify out-of-the-ordinary behaviour patterns that may mean a person needs help.
The facility allows people to trial the technology and see accessible housing design in practice, with the support of clinicians, researchers, and disability and aged care providers.
Professor Velandai Srikanth, Director of the NCHA, Director, Research at Bayside Health Peninsula and Professor of Medicine at Monash’s Peninsula Clinical School, said investing in these research initiatives could change many lives.
“We are excited about the transformative impact these facilities will have in generating evidence to inform government, industry, education, technology and service sectors,” Professor Srikanth said.
“With industry and government partnerships, this approach could be replicated in more communities across Australia, unlocking even greater national impact.”
Professor Mel Dodd, Dean of the Monash Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, said good design can play a critical role in creating future models of care.
“This project shows how architecture, technology and health research can come together to create co-designed environments that genuinely support independence and quality of life as people age,” Professor Dodd said.
“To support healthy ageing, we have to look beyond just clinical care and start looking at the lived experience of the home.
“We’ve created a modular environment where Monash researchers and health practitioners can rigorously test how physical layouts and digital tools interact with human behaviour in real-time.”
Associate Professor Libby Callaway, from the Monash School of Primary and Allied Health Care, said many older Australians and people with disability want to be decision-makers in how they live, where they live and who they live with.
“There have been major reforms in both disability and aged care to support people to live at home rather than in institutional settings like group homes or aged care, but many people don’t know where to start,” Associate Professor Callaway said.
“The Independent Living Laboratory helps close that knowledge gap by letting people try, test and learn in a realistic home environment before making decisions that affect their everyday lives.”
The NCHA is a research and innovation hub with foundational investment from the Commonwealth Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Its mission is to lead the transformation of health and care related to ageing for all Australians.
The establishment of the Independent Living Laboratory was supported by Building 4.0 CRC, Fleetwood Australia, Frankston City Council, St Kilda Football Club, Belvedere Community Centre and Wallara.
