The simulator, to be built at McLean Care’s aged care home in Inverell in northern NSW in partnership with Deakin University, will be designed for people aged 70 to 80 and is being funded by $726,000 from the Federal Government’s Dementia and Aged Care Service (DACS).
Using 3D modelling to recreate the town, McLean Care CEO Sue Thomson tells us they will be recruiting participants from Inverell, Tamworth and Armidale to see if the program can help them to hold onto their licenses for longer.
The program will also supply reports and health data that residents, families and their doctors can use to decide if they should continue driving.
Getting behind the wheel
We think it’s a great initiative. Losing your license, due to health-related issues or just a lack of confidence, can make you feel you’ve lost your independence – and often leads people to make the move into aged care earlier than they otherwise would have done.
Driving when you live in regional, rural and remote areas can also mean a big difference to accessing services.
McLean is now renovating a virtual reality room – complete with passenger car shell – for the simulator with plans to eventually roll out the technology to other locations around NSW and QLD.
We wish them well.
