The NZ Department of Health has given the green light to a new model of dementia care homes designed after small towns.

Inspired by the Dutch concept village De Hogeweyk, the model – as seen at The CARE Village in Rotorua, and here in Australia at Queensland’s NewDirection Care Bellmere – aims to give residents as normal a life as possible in contrast to traditional institutional models of care.

The CARE Village’s Chief Executive Therese Jeffs (pictured) has welcomed the decision to green-light the model following a successful five-year pilot at the Rotorua site.

“The new permanent contract means any aged care provider in New Zealand can choose between the traditional, institutional model and this new social-relational model we have proven to vastly improve the health and wellbeing of residents.

“There needed to be a transformational change to the way we were caring for people in New Zealand in order for those with dementia to have a better life. The CARE Village has opened the door and we encourage other providers to make the change to this model of care now it is also available to them,” she told Stuff.