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New Woodvale respite house


In an exciting proposal, Alzheimer’s WA, Western Australia’s leading dementia care and support service, is planning to open a new day-visit respite house in Woodvale, to help people living with dementia and their carers.

A day respite house gives the family, or carer of a person living with dementia, a short day break while providing an enriching experience for the person living with dementia to socialise, enjoy arts and crafts, and continue to socially engage with their community.

Alzheimer’s WA Chair, Prof. Warren Harding said, “This is a much needed addition to the aged care sector in Perth’s northern suburbs and I am pleased that my early discussions with the City of Joondalup have been very positive as it aligns with its existing Age Friendly Plan 2019-23 and I congratulate them on their vision for a dementia friendly community.

“People living with dementia and those who care for them need to have a vibrant house-based respite environment where carers feel supported and that enables people to age with dignity, and in their community where their children work and grandchildren go to school,” he said.

The proposed day respite house will be at 17 Wellard Grove, Woodvale. It will create an environment that is instantly familiar, with the kitchen at the heart of the home, the smell of home cooked food, chatter and joy filling the hallway and engaging, meaningful activities taking place inside and in the specially designed garden.

Alzheimer’s WA CEO, Ella Dachs said, the location of the new day respite house was specifically chosen to serve the local community.

“This location was specifically selected following the release of Alzheimer’s WA report 2031 WA Dementia Prevalence Predictions by Local Government Area, which indicates an increasing prevalence of dementia in the City of Joondalup. Over 44,000 West Australians are living with dementia and it is the number one cause of death for women. While we cannot change the outcome of dementia, we can change the journey,” she said.

This will be Alzheimer’s WA’s fourth respite house, with others operating successfully over many years at;

  • Mary Chester House, Shenton Park
  • Ella’s House, Mandurah, and
  • Hawthorn House, Albany

Local resident, Claudia Desveaux said the community consultation process for the new day respite house had addressed the many questions that residents had. “I am very excited that there will be a respite House close by which my nanna will attend as we have visited WA Memory Cafes and thoroughly enjoy the interaction with others.”

Alzheimer’s WA is currently consulting with the local community and the much needed day respite house is due to open later this year.

Read the ABC’s coverage of the Woodvale day respite house.

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