Care campaign raises $2.7m
Fundraising for the Hawthorndale Care Village has reached $2.7 million – 20 per cent of its target – in six weeks.
The dementia and elderly care model was launched in October, with an ambitious $14m target to enable the village to become a reality in Invercargill.
In total, it would be a $31.5m aged care facility based on the Dutch De Hogeweyk model, replicating everyday suburban life within a safe setting on the site of the former Hawthorndale school in Tay St.
Public support had been tremendous, project team leader Sarah Hannan said.
‘‘It certainly has been heartening to have such a positive and generous response,’’ she said.
The project team, including former international rugby referee Paddy O’Brien and Southport’s former chief executive Mark O’Connor, was working hard to raise the remaining shortfall of just over $11m.
Support to date has included a $100,000 Southern Trust grant for the concept design. Chief executive Karen Shea said the trust would continue to provide support as the concept advanced.
‘‘This facility is going to vastly improve the quality of life of our senior citizens and people living with dementia,’’ she said.
The Calvary Hospital Board and staff behind the idea deserved credit for their enlightened thinking.
Design consultants will be confirmed this month and would work to a completion date in April. There had been significant interest from consultants.
The Hawthorndale project team had been taking the message to community groups and organisations throughout Southland and Central Otago, and welcomed the chance to speak to other groups and organisations, O’Brien said.
The village provided the opportunity to lead an evolution of aged and dementia care. Although the Dutch model was designed solely for dementia care, Hawthorndale would provide residential aged care, including dementia care that was fully integrated as part of the wider village.
People in the village would be able to enjoy a more normal scale of life rather than the ‘‘unfamiliar, institutional world’’ of rest homes, O’Brien said.