The “dementia village” that’s redefining elder care | Yvonne van Amerongen

How would you prefer to spend the last years of your life: in a sterile, hospital-like institution or in a village with a supermarket, pub, theater and park within easy walking distance? The answer seems obvious now, but when Yvonne van Amerongen helped develop the groundbreaking Hogeweyk dementia care center in Amsterdam 25 years ago, it was seen as a risky break from tradition. Journey with van Amerongen to Hogeweyk and get a glimpse at what a reimagined nursing home based on freedom, meaning and social life could look like.

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18 Comments on The “dementia village” that’s redefining elder care | Yvonne van Amerongen

  1. Dementia is an increasing health issue nowadays, specially with longer life spans, and the work you are doing here is beautiful

  2. After being around a couple of people who suffered from dementia, I find this to be a revolutionary project! The fact that the Hogeweyk center can provide all this yet stay within state-budgeted funds is simply wonderful. The mean-spirited comments here are disappointing to see especially for those of us who are senior citizens who may be in this sort of position sooner or later. I believe that what goes around, comes around and I wouldn’t wish dementia upon anyone. It truly is nothing to joke about.

  3. This is beautiful. Although woman are 1/3 more likely to get late onset dementia, not because they are able to care for their husbands. I hope everyone will take this idea and implament it in their cities

  4. So many run down estates in the UK with no work opportunities and just sit there boarded up and rotting. They could easily become communities for the elderly.

    To be fair they could become communities for anyone again. But private landlords and a profit only objective ruins everything.

  5. What a truly inspiring idea!
    I’m in the process of qualifying as a Health Care Worker and have worked in an old age home as part of my training. It is really heartbreaking to witness the effect of constant confusion on someone, and the fear that goes along with it. The waiting for someone to come and take them home, away from this place.
    I hope to come across a similar workplace at some point, where real progress is made and best practices can be established.

  6. i like to thank her for helping these elderly people not lose the will to live and for treating them like real people cause they are my great grand ma died last year cause she lost the will to live

  7. I don’t know what she means by “state budget”. In the UK, most everything for the elderly and disabled is means-tested. Nursing home care is £4000+ a month. Where I live there are no state-owned or cooperative member/worker owned care homes. It’s _all_ in the private sector.

  8. I worked in a memory care unit where most patients or “residents” as they were called lived in a somewhat home-like setting. they lived in single person rooms (unless married) and most rooms were furnished by their families, so it was familiar to them. I can tell you this – unless carefully supervised – a pond they featured could be extremely dangerous for someone with dementia. we also kept our kitchen (just like a regular kitchen except it included a restaurant-style drink machine) locked. the people with dementia who remembered how to not only use a door handle but to turn a lock, would accidentally grab knives, completely cover themselves in food or drink, etc and it was NOT safe! this was one of the nicer facilities in my area (southeastern United States) and it was roughly $7,000 USD PER MONTH. most insurance did not cover this. so, this is only for the very rich or people who have rich children lol. in my opinion, a place like this would be much better for a regular assisted living facility.

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