de Fiddes are excited to introduce you to our new blog page! This is a place where we plan to share our thoughts and reviews on design, architecture, products and the latest cutting edge research.
Our team will be posting regularly on de Fiddes projects, review new and exciting innovations, pass on to you the latest education, share and promote notes of inspiration and show you some fabulous photos from our interior fit outs. Keep up to date on latest products in the market, articles of interest and research findings from our Managing Director, Debbie de Fiddes.
Our blog will not only be an example of what keeps the team at de Fiddes committed to being at the forefront of innovation but a fun place to collect and seek ideas, advice for all things design and even just to share whatever is on our minds.
To be the first to receive our latest posts sign up to our newsletter inKIND here.
Enjoy!
Welcome to the first DEB Talk of the year!
Join Deb as she asks the question: to Stimulate or not to Stimulate? Deb takes a deep dive into the Pantone colour of the year: Vivid Magenta. Plus what role colour plays in aged care environments, colour science and how this relates to stimulation.
Welcome to our final Deb Talks of the year! Join Deb as she talks all about furniture. She separates some facts from fiction when it comes to selecting furniture, including some big mistakes that manufactures often make. Deb delves into some of the required considerations when it comes to selecting furniture for an Aged Care Facility and discusses the pros and cons of seat cushions - Loose vs. Fixed! Watch the full video for the answer.
Read MoreThis month Deb is talking about buildings and the environment within with a view to potentially making changes within a building to accommodate the types of clients now living in aged care.As residents are becoming more frail, often with co-morbidity issues, together with giving consideration to staff shortages, is there a better way to accommodate the lifestyle needs?
Read MoreSteve Jobs said “learn continually – there is always ‘one more thing’ to learn.” At de Fiddes learning and expanding our skillset is a prerequisite to creating great work. . We recently read through David Engwicht’s eBooks and found some great information and ways of thinking that is relevant to aged care and can help decision makers find the confidence to take action.
Read MoreWatch part 2 of our DEB Talk interview with David Engwicht! Watch as Debbie and David talk about the holistic approach to projects and what role staff and visitors need to play in creating more attractive choices for residents. Plus lots, lots more. Don’t miss it!
Read MoreThe Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) recently launched the ‘Environments for Ageing and Dementia Design Assessment Toolkit.’ (EADDAT) This range of resources provides evidence based research and checklists for families and businesses to use to make places more accessible for an ageing population, and those living with dementia.
Read MoreWatch Part 1 of our video interview with David Engwicht. Join him and Deb as they talk about outdoor spaces with purpose, discuss what is placemaking and talk about his project in Brisbane. This includes a great initiative asking visitors to aged care facilities: ‘has your loved one had 15 minutes outside today?’
Read MoreThis month’s Deb Talk is on Stimulation. More precisely, how we can create environments that are stimulating, and from an interiors perspective how can the design of the environment facilitate engagement?
Read MoreFor good or for bad, Social Media is here to stay. As the number of elderly using social platforms continues to rise so too does our interest in its use within aged care. How can organisations use social media and how can we use it to spread a positive message about ageing?
Listen to find out as Deb explores Social Media, Tiktok and its use in Aged Care in the latest Deb Talk.
This month on Deb Talks, Deb sits down with Julian Goddard, Honorary professor at the School of Art at RMIT, Melbourne where he was Dean until 2019. He is the founder and chair of the Australian Centre for Concrete Art. Join them as they talk all things art, dementia, aged care and art therapy.
Read MoreThat loneliness and isolation is one of the biggest challenges to a person’s social, mental and emotional health. Watch as DEB Talks ‘Visitors and Family for Wellbeing’ Our March Video that explores wellness and what we can do to encourage family and visitors to spend more time visiting their relatives in aged care facilities.
Read MoreOutdoors have always been in, but never more so than now. More evidence is coming out regarding the importance of a connection to nature, for everyone, but especially those living in aged care.
We were interested to read a study from the Netherlands, that asked whether challenging behaviour in Nursing Home Residents (Including those with Dementia) changed because of the COVID-19 quarantine measures.
What was found is incredibly interesting and surprising!
Summing up the year in true Deb Talks fashion!
Listen to Deb as she imparts some wise words regarding inclusivity and who has the responsibility to include the elderly in our communities.
As we say goodbye to 2021, she leaves you with a great parting message – but you will have to listen to find out! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all the de Fiddes team!
Read MoreStaying connected and being part of a community is important to most. So, how do you bring together community, togetherness and connection in senior environments? Some of the many challenges faced today in senior environments but with careful planning, consideration and improved design we can achieve greater spaces that embrace community living.
Read MoreHow can we improve the well-being of older adults through nature and outdoor spaces? Sit down with us this month as Debbie details the many benefits of nature and outdoor based activities for older adults along with a number of ways to make better use of outdoor spaces and ensure greater use by all.
Read MoreThis month Debbie sat down to discuss the importance of colour and how it can fit within the strategy of wayfinding. Colour can have a major (or minor) role when designing a space but needs to be carefully applied for optimum results.
Read MoreThis month we sat down with Kirsty Bennett co-author of the recently published Alzheimer’s Disease International World Report 2020 on the Built Environment ‘Design, Dignity, Dementia: Dementia related design and the built environment’.
This month we are excited to bring you our refined Knowledge segment ‘Deb Talks…’ with Debbie de Fiddes. Through latest research, knowledge and experience we will explore current pressing topics and interview change makers looking to improve aged care, retirement and disability environments for all.
Read MoreWhat better topic to explore under ‘Knowledge’ than ‘Knowledge Translation’?! Knowledge Translation or KT is a fairly new concept evolving from the early 2000’s and can be explained as the exchange, synthesis and application of knowledge between researchers and end users to incorporate this evidence based information into practice to strengthen outcomes and improve people’s lives.
Read MoreThe Royal Commission has identified that Australian aged care service providers in general are not meeting the needs of residents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. With one in three people in aged care services born overseas, there is an opportunity to incorporate cultural awareness into care practices
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