With the number of Kiwis coping with dementia expected to triple over the next 30 years a King Country dementia care unit has already got a waiting list. Ōtorohanga’s Beattie Home, originally the former Ōtorohanga Maternity Hospital, was converted 31 years ago and the new 22-bed dementia unit is sited next to the existing aged-care facility.
It will provide employment opportunities with an additional 22 extra full-time staffing roles for the dementia unit, a mix of nurses and caregivers. Two of the unit's beds will be kept for day stays, with the other 20 allocated for full-time care.
The site under construction and the completion date is expected to be late May 2021.
