Breaking away from institutional dementia care
Following a successful five-year pilot, the New Zealand Ministry of Health has approved a new “small town” model for dementia care villages.
The CARE Village at Rotorua was built based on a Dutch village, De Hogeweyk, and aims to break away from traditional institutional care models by giving residents as normal a life as possible.
Residents are placed in a community with shops, gardens, and other amenities, and are able to move around freely while living in small households; a secure perimeter also protects those residents who cannot safely leave, while allowing other residents on trips outside the village.
“The new permanent contract means any aged care provider in New Zealand can choose between the traditional, institutional model and this new social-relational model we have proven to vastly improve the health and wellbeing of residents,” Chief Executive Therese Jeffs told Stuff.
“There needed to be a transformational change to the way we were caring for people in New Zealand in order for those with dementia to have a better life. The CARE Village has opened the door and we encourage other providers to make the change to this model of care now it is also available to them.”
A similar premise has been used in Australia, at NewDirection Care’s Bellmere village in Queensland.
