THE bulldozers have moved out and the demolition work is complete, paving the way for work to start on Australia's first suburban village for people living with dementia.
Poised to set a new standard for dementia care in Australia, the Korongee village at Glenorchy has been hailed as a "game-changer" for people with dementia.
It is based on international models including De Hogeweyk village in the Netherlands and will take on a typical Tasmanian streetscape. With 15 tailored homes built in a suburban cul-de-sac, the village is designed to allow residents to feel at home and wander freely in a safe and supported environment.
The "small town" will be complete with streets, a supermarket, cinema, cafe, beauty salon and gardens.
Residents will be able to walk around the village and participate in everyday life decisions such as popping out to buy a coffee or heading to the supermarket to buy groceries for dinner.
Korongee is a partnership between aged care provider Glenview, health sector superannuation fund HESTA and Social Ventures Australia, and will be built with federal government assistance.
Glenview Community Services chief executive Lucy O'Flaherty said construction is planned to begin in late July, keeping them on track to meet the planned opening date in October 2019.
