Māori Dementia Centre to Open in Waikato, New Zealand
Why this is here: The centre aims to provide a culturally familiar environment for kaumātua, prioritizing a “home” atmosphere over a clinical setting to better serve their needs.
The first kaupapa Māori wellness centre for people living with dementia will open in Hamilton, Waikato. The Selwyn Foundation and Te Kōhao Health are partnering to establish Te Whare Mahara. Around 4,500 Māori currently live with mate wareware, a figure projected to reach 12,000 by 2050.
Māori develop dementia approximately ten years earlier than Pākehā, according to research. The centre will integrate te reo Māori, tikanga, and mātauranga Māori into its care. It will function as a day care facility, supporting whānau who primarily care for their kaumātua at home.
The wellness centre is located on Ridout Street in Maeroa. Ngāti Mahunga led a sod-turning ceremony on Tuesday. The Selwyn Foundation plans to open additional Māori-designed centres in the future.