Site work as begun on an innovative suburban village in Glenorchy in Tasmania designed to provide real-life experiences and improve the quality of life for people living with dementia.

 

The first of its kind in Australia, Korongee dementia village’s development is a partnership between HESTA who has invested $19 million in the project through its Social Impact Investment Trust, Glenview, a not-for-profit aged care provider, the Commonwealth Government and Social Ventures Australia, who manage the $70 million trust.

 

Based on a cul-de-sac streetscape, the design of Korongee facilitates residents to participate in everyday life decisions such as shopping at the supermarket, enjoying a coffee at the cafe giving them a sense of self, home and community. Other features of the village include a beauty salon and gardens.

 

Drawing on innovative national and international examples to change how care is provided for people living with dementia it will feature 12 eight-bedroom houses with dementia design principles throughout and residents will live with others whose values they share to assist in maintaining a sense of normality according to Glenview CEO Lucy O’Flaherty.

 

HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said Korongee represented a significant milestone for aged care in Australia and will help address the big social challenge of dementia, as well as create jobs and opportunities for their members who work in health and community services.

 

With more than 430,000 Australians currently living with dementia the demand for dementia care is outstripping supply and without a medical breakthrough this number is expected to increase to more than one million by 2058.

 

 Korongee will be completed in late 2019.