SITE WORK has started on an Australia-first dementia village in Tasmania.
Final plans have been unveiled for the innovative suburban village, in Glenorchy in Hobart’s north, designed to provide real-life experiences for people living with dementia.
The project is a collaboration between aged care provider Glenview Community Services and health sector superannuation fund HESTA. The government is also providing funding.
Based on a typical Tasmanian cul-de-sac, it will feature 12 eight-bedroom houses and commercial hub with a cafe, supermarket, beauty salon and gardens.
“Korongee returns to the simple home truths of ‘it takes a village’, pushing the boundaries in terms of doing something innovative and different in aged care,” said Glenview chief executive Lucy O’Flaherty.
In large buildings, the sense of institution is unavoidably present when you walk through the door.
- Lucy O'Flaherty, Glenview
She said one of the key elements of the design is the small house model. “In large buildings, the sense of institution is unavoidably present when you walk through the front door and any well-meaning ideology can easily be lost.
“With a village like Korongee, you walk into small homes, all with dementia design principles, and a sense of the everyday is much easier to maintain.”
She said residents with dementia will be able to walk around the village and participate in everyday life decisions that are not always available in traditional residential based dementia care – such as going to the cafe or popping to the supermarket.
Korongee is expected to be completed late 2019.
Read more: Innovative dementia village for Tasmania