The weather is spectacular and the swimming pool is always inviting. The rooms have all the mod-cons and the food is great. At the Vivo Bene resort in northern Thailand, pampering is the priority.
But while the intensive care is very deliberate, this is no ordinary holiday paradise. That’s because the guests are elderly and most have dementia. Unlike other aged-care providers though, the world-renowned treatment at Vivo Bene is not dominated by medication. Instead, it includes love, laughter, and giving vulnerable humans the time – and respect – they deserve.
For reporter Dimity Clancey, providing the best care possible for dementia patients is a cause close to her heart. Her mother, Lorraine, has battled the disease for more than a decade and currently lives in an aged-care home in Sydney. In this special report for 60 MINUTES, Clancey asks why can’t there be facilities like Vivo Bene in Australia?
