Aged and dementia care provider HammondCare has signed a deal with supermarket operator Coles to create Village Stores, a real-life shopping experience for aged care residents living with dementia.
The stores will be installed in HammondCare’s dementia-specific villages in NSW, Victoria, and soon in South Australia.
People living with dementia enjoy shopping as it provides them with dignity, autonomy, and a sense of meaning and purpose, HammondCare said in a statement.
The experience will be enhanced for residents by creating a dementia-friendly environment, including specially designed checkouts, counters and shelving. Residents will be able to use Village Stores for their daily food supplies at no cost to them, while the stores will be available to the families of residents, staff and the local community for retail sales.
The first site of Village Stores
The stores will also be refreshed for seasonal events like Christmas and Easter, helping to trigger feelings and memories for residents as they prepare for special occasions with family and loved ones.
Throughout the partnership, HammondCare will contribute its research and knowledge on best practice for aged and dementia care to help Coles to create accessible shopping environments and supportive experiences for older people and those living with dementia.
“We recognise that the simple act of shopping offers all people, particularly those living with dementia, meaningful engagement, independence and helps keep memories alive,” said HammondCare CEO Mike Baird.
The first stage of the partnership will see the refurbishment of current on-site stores for HammondCare aged care residents in NSW and Victoria, with the first to be in HammondCare’s Caulfield Village.
Using the learnings of these redeveloped Village Stores, a brand-new custom-built Village Store, encompassing leading dementia-friendly principles, will be built at the cottage style dementia care village due to open in at the Repat Health Precinct at Daw Park, Adelaide in early 2023.
A wonderful concept that deserves support.
