Is this the house of the future? University of Wollongong students create dementia-friendly house
The ‘Desert Rose’ house has been designed to make it easier for people with dementia and aged-related disabilities to live independently at home – and it’s a real insight into the future.
Features include digital taps with lights reminding users to wash their hands, automatic ‘off’ functions and temperature controls; lights that can be turned off using voice activation, so people don’t have to get out of bed; and mobile control of the house so family members can ensure appliances are switched off.
A ‘line of sight’ design also makes it easier to navigate through their home, while wider doors allow for wheelchairs, scooters and hospital beds for in-home care.
Benches, stoves and kitchen functions are also height-adjustable if the person needs to use a wheelchair later in life.
Ageing-friendly design
It’s a smart design that’s been developed with input from the Southern Dementia Advisory Group.
Its head Dennis Frost, who is 64 and living with dementia, says the features mean you wouldn’t need to retrofit your home later.
“A relative of mine recently become a paraplegic and the adaptations they’ve had to make to enable him to maintain a relatively normal life at home is really dramatic,” Mr Frost told the ABC.
“In the Desert Rose environment, they would be easy and make the ageing process much more friendly.”
With over 425,000 Australians living with dementia – and around 250 new cases diagnosed every day – it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
