HammondCare has signed an agreement with the State Government to build South Australia’s first cottage-style care homes for people with dementia in the Repat Health Precinct.
HammondCare Chief Executive, Dr Stephen Judd, said HammondCare will provide a 78 place service for the care and support of people with complex care needs in a village-like environment.
Dr Judd said the need for the new care homes was highlighted by predictions the number of people living with dementia in South Australia would double to more than to 73,040 by 2058.
“Instead of the large institutional approach that simply doesn’t work for people with dementia, residents in in the new care homes will benefit from the small, domestic residential care model shown by research to be the most effective way to deliver dementia care – with fewer hospitalisations and better quality of life, ” Dr Judd said.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to create a centre of dementia care excellence in South Australia, ensuring the state’s most vulnerable community members can live with dignity and quality of life.”
There will be four dementia-specific cottages, each housing 15 residents. There also will be two cottages for nine residents each, that will be the State’s first Specialist Dementia Care Units. These units will be part of a network of more than 30 being funded across Australia by the Federal Government to care for people experiencing very severe symptoms of dementia.
Accommodation will include single rooms with ensuites inclusive of numerous dementia design features, as well as domestic-style kitchens where meals are prepared fresh, and generous and reminiscent living areas that provide safe access to outdoors.
Clinical and institutional aspects, such as offices, parking and equipment, are carefully hidden away so as to not intrude on the domestic familiarity that enables quality of life for people with dementia and minimises disability.
A concept plan would be further developed in coming months to confirm a final design.
HammondCare will work closely with SA Health, Mitcham Council and local authorities through the planning and assessment process with a planning application expected in the second half of 2020.
“HammondCare understands the importance of the SA Repat site and its history and this will inform aspects of the final design,” Dr Judd said.
Dementia Support Australia (DSA), a national partnership led by HammondCare and funded by the Federal Government, has operated in South Australia for some time, providing dementia care consultancy and support across the aged care sector. It is anticipated that DSA will be co-located on the site.
