A happy day out for people with dementia.

Down a quiet gravel path near Raumati Beach, you’ll find a group of excited individuals tending to vegetables in Home4All’s newly constructed greenhouse. Outside, you’ll find others busying themselves with lawnmowing, fixing old locks in the workshop or whipping up pancakes with help from a team of volunteers.

Although these activities may not seem out of the ordinary, for Home4All’s visitors, they represent huge achievements due to the commonality they share – they are all in the early stages of dementia.

An innovative model

Home4All’s story started in 2007 when Jan and Marian Weststrate migrated to New Zealand from the Netherlands. Each with over 30 years’ experience working in healthcare, they quickly noted the limited care options available for people with dementia in New Zealand. Inspired by the world-leading Dutch care model, which promotes autonomy and encourages social connection, Jan and Marian led research tours to the Netherlands with the hope of introducing the same model to New Zealand.

In 2020, the couple took steps to develop a small scale day programme in Kāpiti, where demand for such a service was high. “Dementia is a growing problem in our society, especially in our local community with over 700 people living with dementia at home across the Kāpiti Coast,” says Jan. The day centre officially opened in August 2022.

A happy day out

“There is a huge stigma around dementia,” says Jan. “So many people don’t know how to relate and communicate with those living with the condition, which creates a real sense of isolation for them, their carers and their families.” Home4All’s programme aims to restore a level of independence, create moments of joy and happiness and bring a sense of pride to people in the preliminary stages of the condition.

All visitors are encouraged to use their skillsets, rediscover their passions and spend time doing things they love in a safe, social and welcoming environment. “Our aim is simple – we just want to give people a happy day out – whatever that may look like for them,” says Jan.

Encouraging meaningful connection with nature

To encourage meaningful connection with nature and build a sense of purpose for visitors, Home4All sought funding to build a greenhouse. Nikau Foundation was happy to support, providing a grant from the Edith Sprott Fund and Kāpiti Disability Support Fund