Supermarket giant Coles has partnered with an Australian aged care provider, in a move that is expected to promote independence and dignity for aged care residents that are living with dementia.
Former NSW Premier Mike Baird – who is now the CEO of aged care provider HammondCare – recently announced that one of his organisation’s homes in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs will be among the first facilities to feature a miniature Coles supermarket on site.
“It is all about independence, it is about dignity, it is about choice … about residents doing the activities they enjoy.”
According to Coles Group CEO Steven Cain, each miniature store will be stocked with items that reflect the tastes of senior consumers, and customers can expect to see a big range of their favourite foods.
“Quite often what they are looking for is smaller cuts of vegetables, smaller cuts of meat,” Mr Cain told 9News.
Residents who enter the miniature supermarket will not have to navigate self-checkouts, as each supermarket will have a cashier on hand to make the process as easy as possible.
The first Coles miniature supermarket will open at HammondCare’s Caulfield facility in Victoria, with aged care facilities in Adelaide and Sydney expected to be next.
I’d really like more information on this, very interested
This is a good idea. This kind of assistance should be provided to other shoppers in ordinary supermarkets. It is difficult to get things down off the shelves and the whole experience can be very challenging for some people. Earlier this year I saw a young lady with MS (?) trying to shop in Southland Coles. I was impressed with her determination and courage but it should not be this way. Supermarkets should be set up so everyone can participate in what used to be a social activity.
Whilst I cautiously applaud Coles for this idea as it does sound good on paper… I cannot shake a sense of distrust. Coles has announced it is lifting the mandate that staff be COVID vaccinated so I am wondering what the bottom line is here for Coles? I struggle to believe it’s because they care about the elderly in our community… they must think they can make money from the arrangement but hard to see how, especially if they are, as the picture suggests, providing Coles staff (vaccinated I hope) to man the shop…
Love it!
Brilliant, well done Hammond Care and Coles on a great partnership idea.
This is a great idea but you would have to have someone available who knows the residents medical history,
It is not uncommon for someone with dementia to have swallowing issues or allergies, so supervision would be required to ensure they didn’t purchase a product that would be harmful to their health
Creating an environment with the well recognized normal activities is on target to engage and connect those with dementia and others too
In an experience as common to all.
Most natural occurring environmental activities need to be created to make those with dementia of any type comfortable and as able as anyone else. Reducing the stigma attached unfairly to those with dementia will go a long way to recognizing them as people again.
What a fantastic innovative idea. I would love to see one for Carers NT, I am the Chairperson, this is forward thinking. Congratulations. We provide day respite and overnight extended respite this includes indigenous people coming in from communities. This concept would really assist people wanting to maintain independence.