An innovative new app has been developed by Alzheimer’s Australia Vic to help families and carers create a home that is more suitable for loved ones with dementia, helping them to lead fuller and more independent lives.
Minister for Housing, Ageing and Disability Martin Foley today officially launched the new Dementia Friendly Home App at the Perc Walkley Dementia Learning Centre in Parkville.
The Alzheimer’s Australia Vic app, developed by a team at Deakin University with the help of $100,000 from the Victorian Government, aims to help families and carers of someone with dementia make small, inexpensive changes around the home.
Families and carers are able to explore a virtual home from their mobile device and learn how to make it more suitable and accessible for people with dementia. Browsing different rooms within a home, it gives advice on furniture, lighting and colours.
Each object within the home is interactive, allowing people to see and hear the impact simple changes might have for a person living with dementia.
A friendly environment at home helps people with dementia to continue gardening, cooking and doing other everyday tasks that may have become difficult.
The Andrews Labor Government understands the challenges of supporting people living with dementia and their carers and recognises the work Alzheimer's Australia Vic is doing on how best to tackle dementia.
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic receives more than $4 million a year in government funding to support Victorians with dementia and their carers, and to raise awareness about the disease.
Latest statistics from Alzheimer’s Australia Vic estimate that there are about 97,000 Victorians living with dementia.
The Dementia Friendly Home App is available for iPads and Android tablets for $2.99. The cost of downloading the app will go towards ongoing management and upgrades.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley
“The Andrews Labor Government is working to improve the well-being of people living with dementia, and this innovative app can help do that.”
“The changes suggested in this app will make a big difference to those living with dementia and, by association, the lives of those who love and care for them.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020