Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor
I would like to congratulate the Heathcote Dementia Alliance on the recent opening of their
dementia-friendly villa, Costerfield House.
The opening highlighted the importance of dementia care in regional Victoria during Dementia
Action Week.
This year in Victoria it’s estimated there are more than 104,000 people living with dementia.
Australia-wide there are more than 400,000 Australians living with dementia and 1.5 million carers.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death of all Australians. There are more than 28,600 people
with younger onset dementia – in the 30s, 40s and 50s.
These figures make the Costerfield House project even more crucial.
The villa is an inspiring look at the future and how we can care for people living with dementia.
This transportable, purpose-built facility provides a safe environment for people to live independently with dignity and to maintain their quality of life.
The layout, colours, furniture and textures used in the villa have all been carefully considered.
Perhaps most amazing, though, is the creative use of artificial intelligence.
When you enter the house, a swipe of a card opens the door, turns on the lights and TV and the
blinds go up. Lighting is automatically controlled to match the natural light of day and night.
There are no cameras in the building, but sensors throughout the villa will pick up on a person’s
normal routine. Then, for example if they do not open their fridge within a set time, an alert will be
sent to their carer so they can check if they have fallen or are sick.
There is also a room for carers to work or sleep in.
HDA founder and president Sandra Slatter and her team have been working hard for four years to
create this extraordinary home.
They have received strong support from the community, including builders and tradies, businesses,
and their major sponsor – Mandalay Resources.
Costerfield House will be used as a showcase for 12 months and then will be gifted to the Heathcote
Hospital for respite tourism. The Heathcote group is also working with a team in Mildura to create a
cluster of several villas with a central hub.
It’s hoped the design could be used as a template for specialised housing for people dealing with
disabilities or homelessness.
I congratulate Sandra and her hardworking team for giving us all a glimpse of a dementia-friendly
future.
Kind regards
Gaelle Broad MP
The Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Region
Photo caption: Costerfield Villa is a vision for the future in caring for friends and relatives with dementia.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
