$3.5M sees 11-bed dementia unit come to life
Not For Profit Boandik Lodge Inc is expected to open the 11-bed dementia unit in Mount Gambier, 400km southeast of Adelaide, at the end of the month.
The project has been funded with the assistance of a $2,870,625 Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) grant from the Commonwealth, awarded in December 2024, with Boandik Lodge Inc tipping in the additional $700,000.
The project involves redevelopment of the Moore Court section of Boandik Kessal residential aged care home at Lake Terrace, Mount Gambier, into a dementia care unit.
With 11 private rooms with ensuites, the new home will feature communal spaces including dining and lounge areas, and kitchen facilities. The design has been carefully considered for residents living with dementia, featuring elements such as natural lighting, intuitive wayfinding, and sensory gardens.
Boandik CEO Pamela Alde said the new unit will address a critical need for specialist dementia care services in the Limestone Coast region of southeastern South Australia.
“Dementia care requires a specialist approach, and the new unit will significantly improve care outcomes and quality of life for local residents living with advanced forms of dementia,” she said.
“Even small details such as artworks, colour schemes and the contrast of flooring for depth perception have been carefully considered to provide a desensitising environment to enable people living with dementia to engage meaningfully with their surroundings.
“This accommodation has been a long time coming,” she added.
The project's architects are Brown Falconer, with builders Mossop Construction + Projects, and engineers Tonkin Consulting.
In 2025, Boandik was awarded an additional ACCAP grant of $1.6 million for further upgrades and additional room capacity at Boandik Kessal.
