EFFORTS to establish a dementia village at Heathcote have entered a new phase, with a focus on funding, design and prospective sites.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It comes after a feasibility study found the central Victorian community was well-placed for such a development.
Sandra Slatter, one of three community representatives on the steering group, said an implementation committee was being formed to progress the project.
It will fall to that committee to explore funding avenues, suitable sites and ideas for the design.
Steering committee members were able to offer attendees at an information session in Heathcote this week some insight into their ideas for the project.
Possibilities include a bespoke playground, to attract families to the village.
An inter-generational play program is already being trialled in the community, involving Heathcote Health and Bunbunarik Heathcote Children's Hub.
Committee members are also keen for palliative care to be integrated into the village, so it remains home even when residents enter the next stage of their lives.
There is expected to be a place for research and education at the dementia village - a centre of excellence.
Committee member Eugene Meegan said the project would borrow concepts from the Dutch model, which informed early plans.
It is not yet known what the village will look like.
Ms Slatter said there would be an emphasis on green and open spaces, with committee members keen to balance residents' safety and security with quality of life and inclusion in the broader community.
Committee members said the idea was for the village to be part of the town of Heathcote, not separate.
"We want it all to be one community," Dr Emma McLaughlin said.
"That means we've got to start working with who's here now."
An alliance has formed to help existing Heathcote residents learn more about dementia and promote non-judgemental and positive attitudes towards people with disability.
A number of businesses in the town are being audited to identify ways in which they can better include people with disability.
Heathcote Health is transforming its former administration area into a dementia book library and access hub.
Preliminary results from an online program Heathcote has been involved in trialling are expected to shortly be made public.
Verily Connect is a La Trobe University initiative, which is intended to support carers of people living with dementia in rural communities.
"A dementia-friendly community is a people-friendly community," Mr Meegan said.
More than 3338 people in the federal electorate of Bendigo are living with dementia.
That number is expected to almost double by 2058.
This week is Dementia Action Week. The theme - 'Dementia does't discriminate, do you?' - invites people to consider how those living with dementia experience discrimination.
"We know, because people living with dementia tell us, that discrimination exists and that it impacts on their everyday life," Dementia Australia chief executive Maree McCabe said.
"That's why we want to tackle this head-on and we are calling on all Australians to contribute their views."
Dementia Australia is encouraging people to partake in a survey about dementia and discrimination: dementia.org.au/survey
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.