Sometimes it seems that our beloved United States of America, the greatest country in the world, is just behind the times. Or maybe we are juggling too many problems and some are falling through the cracks. Where am I going with this? To a little town called Weesp, located in Holland. Didn't see that one coming, right?
There is a "dementia-focused living center" located in Weesp that is a village within the city. It's called De Hogewevk, and some refer to it as Dementiavillage. On one hand, it is fully locked down and secured. On the other hand, it's a life of freedom for the residents who live within the gates. Everything has been set up to feel as if it were any other community, so the residents can go about their day just as they did in their past. They have their own restaurants, cafes, even a grocery store. They can walk among the gardens, down the boulevard, or go have their hair done. Everything, down to the smallest details, are built to let the residents live as normal a life as possible, "just like before".
..."By treating residents as normal people, Hogeweyk seems to suggest that there isn't such a huge difference, deep down-just differing needs. By designing a city tailored to those unique needs, residents avoid the dehumanization that long-term medical care can unintentionally cause."
This sounds like such a wonderful solution to extending the happiness of our loved ones that have been stricken with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. I am so happy to know that these types of settings are being researched and tested. Hopefully there will be movement toward these facilities in the United States very soon.
Please go over to GIZMODO and read the full story by Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan about this great living facility. Spread the news so we can get these built in our cities.
