Join TrinityHaus Researchers for the launch of the Universal Design Guidelines for Long-Term Residential Care Settings, taking place on Thursday, February 19, 2026. 

The built environment, including the overall site, buildings, gardens, rooms, furniture, and fittings, all play a critical role in the quality of life of residents. The built environment also influences staff wellbeing and how the setting is experienced by family members and other visitors. In this regard, this project examines how the built environment can help improve quality of life, enhance infection control, and support greater overall resilience into the future.

Funded by the Health Research Board - Investigator-Led Projects 2024, the guidelines are underpinned by the following research activities: literature reviews ; a total of 11 on-site best-practice case study sites in Ireland; desk-based international case studies; and an extensive set of stakeholder engagement activities, including: an online consultation; focus groups with residents, family members, and staff in each of our Irish case studies; +25 expert interviews across the following sectors: healthcare professionals; health/ageing researchers; NGOs/advocacy representatives; regulators/government agency/policy; local government; planning and design professionals (including in the areas of fire safety, climate, and sustainability); Universal Design; Inclusive Design and Human Rights); a series of stakeholder workshops; and, as the project evolved, the introduction of new arts-based/place-based engagement activities, including a poetry workshop series with Poetry Ireland Poet in Residence (2023-2025) Anne Tannam, and a place-based publication further exploring the meaning of home, and connection and attachment to place with residents of Glenaulin Nursing Home, one of our case study sites.

The guidelines include a set of set of key design considerations – framed by the 4 Universal Design principles, 12 Key design issues, and the role of the built environment in addressing environmental sustainability, climate adaptation, and resilience; these considerations offer a window into what is possible and achievable in the area of LTRC in Ireland:

  • Demonstrate that a high level of clinical care can be achieved within homely environments that reflect the patterns, spaces, and materials of ordinary daily life.
  • Provide concrete guidance and support to Design and Healthcare Professionals, and Service Providers at brief development and design stages
  • Promote the understanding that a considered configuration of space can improve quality of life while aligning with the project budget

Over the course of the research, the research team have also developed a co-creation and engagement framework to support more meaningful involvement of key stakeholders including older persons in built environment projects. It comprises:

  • a planning and design stage cycle to guide the engagement and co-creation at various stages;
  • four-step process to work with stakeholders;
  • a toolkit to support the design process.

A canvas has been developed to help provide a structure to inform and support non-built environment experts so that they can make a meaningful contribution to the design process.

To register for the launch: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-universal-design-guidelines-for-long-term-residential-care-settings-tickets-1980718070067?aff=oddtdtcreator

The HRB project is led by Trinity College Dublin (Principal Investigator – Prof. Desmond O’Neill - School of Medicine – Centre for Medical Gerontology, and TrinityHaus (School of Engineering) – Research Team – Tom Grey (Co-Principal Investigator, School of Engineering), Dimitra Xidous (Research Fellow, Co-Creation and Engagement Lead), Jennifer O'Donoghue (Research Assistant, PhD Candidate) and involves: Age Friendly Ireland, Age Action Ireland, Health Service Executive and the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD). This project also involves several collaborators, including the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Nursing Homes Ireland, Care Champions, O'Connell Mahon Architects, Maastricht University and Built Environment Consultant Bill Benbow.