Photo: Carpe Diem
By offering humanized care that feels more like home, Hogeweyk 'dementia village' has shifted the paradigm for people with dementia. The 188 residents in the government-funded Dutch community move about the village freely, and it can be difficult to distinguish between the residents and the plainclothes staff. While 'dementia villages' and senior 'microtowns' have increased worldwide, experts say another paradigm shift is needed to cope with a population that may reach 78 million by 2030. Facilities as far afield as Norway and Australia are working to further integrate dementia villages with surrounding neighborhoods. In the US, a dementia village for 105 residents is being developed in New Jersey, and its neurocognitive clinic and senior resource hub also will serve the general public. "It's all about normalizing life for people who have a dementia diagnosis," said Avandell founder Larry Carlson.
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