Aria Gardens Opens State-of-the-Art Dementia Care

Aria Gardens Opens State-of-the-Art Dementia Care

Aria Gardens in Albany is excited to announce the opening of their newly refurbished state-of-the-art Dementia Care Unit on Thursday 28 January. The Kauri Wing, catering specifically to cognitively impaired residents, now provides specialized accommodation for 20 residents.

The new unit will service the growing number of dementia residents in Auckland. There are now more than 15,000 people in the greater Auckland area living with dementia and a much wider network of family and friends who are in turn affected. In fact, at least two in three people will be touched by dementia in their lifetime.

The purpose-built specialist Dementia Care Unit provides a safe environment for residents who are suffering from this progressive illness. The unit facilitates increased quality of life, independence and safety while having the flexibility to adapt to the gradual worsening of symptoms.

Bill McDonald, CEO Arvida, one of the largest operators of retirement villages and aged care facilities in New Zealand, says “our elderly population is rapidly increasing and issues such as social isolation, depression and anxiety become predominant. The support and facilities available need to continue to stay ahead of the growth and we’re continually striving to address and understand these challenges. As a business dedicated to improving the lives and wellbeing of our residents by transforming the ageing experience, the Kauri Wing is a great leap in that direction.”

Aria Gardens has thought about even the smallest detail from unique colour coded doors on every room to help with recognition or disorientation and visual cues including different colour toilet seats to aid depth perception, through to reduced lighting, varied finishes on surfaces and subdued paint colours. Every aspect of the design and finish of the Kauri Wing has been specifically chosen to aid people living with dementia.

With 44 million people globally already living with dementia and ageing societies worldwide, dementia is a truly global challenge. By 2030, the number of people living with dementia is projected to increase to 76 million. In New Zealand, it is forecast to triple from 53,000 to around 150,000 by 2050.

Dementia is one of New Zealand’s most significant and growing healthcare challenges. The total financial cost of dementia on the health system in 2011 was estimated as $954.8 million. Alzheimers New Zealand informally calculates the value of those who were fully or partially removed from the workforce to care for someone with dementia at an estimated $37.7 million.

The Kauri Wing Dementia Care Unit is the result of 8 months of development and forms part of a wider investment by Arvida in dementia care across the country. At the time of opening all rooms have been filled.

ENDS

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