A small town-inspired 'dementia village' is being built to make patients feel more at home
It's designed to give people with the disease a better quality of life
It's designed to give people with the disease a better quality of life
As people continue to live longer and longer, technology must advance to keep up with our extended life spans. Whether it be through backyard "" or designed to look like towns from the 1940s to help residents feel more at home, great strides are being made to improve senior citizens' quality of life.
Now, a new community in Australia will continue that effort with plans to build a complex for people with dementia, according to the . The village, Korongee, will be built in Tasmania and will mimic a real small town community. Modeled after a , the facility is designed to create an environment that will give residents with the disease a chance to engage in normal daily activities and feel at home. The $20 million project is a partnership between , , and Social Ventures Australia, and will be built with the assistance of the Commonwealth Government.
Korongee's cul de sac layout will feature all the elements of a real neighborhood, including homes, gardens, a café, grocery store, movie theater, and a beauty salon. Because people with dementia often struggle to recognize unfamiliar environments, each home will be designed with familiar elements of Tasmanian culture.
"Korongee's design will make it possible for residents living with dementia to walk around the village and participate in everyday life decisions which are presently not available to those in dementia care," Glenview Chairman Iain Weir told the Tasmanian Times. "Activities such as going to the café to buy a coffee or simply heading to the supermarket to buy groceries for dinner."
"In addition to the cultural services hub, Korongee will consist of 15 houses, each with six bedrooms, which will be staffed by health professionals who dress casually and will act as 'home makers' to provide an authentic home like environment."
The community will have no set age limit, as early onset dementia can affect people at a young age. It will be home to approximately 90 residents, and their friends and relatives will be free to visit their loved ones in the real-world environment.
According to the , Korongee is expected to be finished in the next 18 months.