Amazing Village Just For People With Dementia Lets Them Live Normally And Safely
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are terrible illnesses that are both socially and medically tough to deal with. The Hogewey center in the Netherlands, however, is helping pioneer a sensitive new form of care for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients by creating a safe, gated village where they can roam freely and lead normal lives.
The enclosed village of De Hogeweyk, located in the town of Weesp, has everything – a grocery store, parks, a restaurant, a bar and a theater. Its 23 homes house 152 seniors suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s.
The center, designed by the Molenaar&Bol&VanDillen architecture firm, opened in 2009. It cost the Dutch government 17.8 million euros (20.1 million USD), with an additional 1.5 million (1.7 million USD) coming from local organizations. The cost for a single resident is around 5,000 euros (5,657 USD) a month.
More info: hogeweyk.dementiavillage.com | mbvda.nl (h/t: twistedsifter)
Hogeweyk isn’t your regular quiet Dutch village
Image credits: msagd.rlp.de
It’s home to 152 dementia and Alzheimer’s patients
Image credits: Madeleine Sars
Life is normal, however – there’s even a supermarket!
Image credits: Hans Erkelens
Image credits: Hans Erkelens
Other amenities include a restaurant, a theater and a bar
Image credits: Hans Erkelens
The residential buildings are separated by interior decor styles
Image credits: KopArt, Amstelveen
Image credits: KopArt, Amstelveen
Image credits: msagd.rlp.de
Image credits: Hans Erkelens
The center, designed by the architects at Molenaar&Bol&VanDillen, opened in 2009
Image credits: msagd.rlp.de
The center cost the Dutch government and local organizations 19.3 mil. euros (21.8 mil. USD)
Image credits: Hans Erkelens
The caretakers and staff dress in everyday clothes to appear normal
Image credits: Hans Erkelens
The patients that live in “up-scale” suites sometimes treat caretakers like neighbors or workers
Image credits: Anita Edridge
Image credits: Madeleine Sars
Image credits: msagd.rlp.de
Image credits: Nieko Roozen
Image credits: Molenaar&Bol&VanDillen architekten
233Kviews
Share on FacebookI think we should funnel all the unnecessary tax money spent on frivolous things by government into wonderful projects like this one.
me too, and I would adore working in a place with this sort of set up!
Load More Replies...Dignity, Respect, these are words with true meanings when I see this wonderful centre
It's a beautiful idea but who can afford over $5000.00 a month. I know I can't.
Load More Replies...Cheaper than keeping them in a Hospital, and much nicer. There should be many of such places.
Dignity and Respect have their true meaning when I see this, hope as well !
Great idea, did I read that right, cost about $5,000 a month? Doesn't seem like what the average person would be able to afford.
and nursing homes are total s**t compared to this place
Load More Replies...maybe we should send the bill of eur 5000 per month per patient to the big pharma companies who put this generation on neuroleptics ?
I wish I could send my mom there, makes me sad her quality of life is not as good as it could be.
This has been a dream of mine for those with chronic mental illness. Yes we need places like this for people with Dementia and Alzheimers!
I recently lost my dad due it complications from dementia and this would have been a wonderful environment for him to be in! So much dignity
I wish my mother who had ALZ had access to a facility such as this.We could not cope with her care at the end.Frail care was our only option
It does not say that the government pays for the residents to live there.
I feel happy for the people who are lucky enough to be there. Respect.
It's a great idea. What shame on UK government that we have nothing like this.
While I think that the whole program is fantastic, it is quite cost prohibitive for most people. 5000 Euros is a horrendous amount.
I too am a medical professional. Curious how progression of Alzhiemer's is handled?
My mother suffered with Lewy Body Dementia and was in a nursing home for 8 years. This would have been so much better for her.
My grandfather died from dementia and his last year was very hard on him and our family I only wish he could've been in a place like this
Would love more of these around the world. Not just for alzhimers and dementia, but also down syndrom, autism and fragile x syndrome
with all due respect to the disease , I want to think about how to live well and lucid until the end of my life < 3
it seems to me , a gilded cage , where we all want to go, the right end of our irresponsible life , delegating decisions to others...
I think this is a brilliant idea. People are treated with dignity & respect.
A fantastic idea. I think everywhere should have a village like that.
I think it is wonderful for those lucky enough to be able to have a place to go. They would need one in almost every city in the USA .
Folks with dimentia often loop back into their past so I wonder if any of the residents experience confusion from the surroundings?
Reserve me a room. Great idea, as long as people remain safe from their self and others.
I think we should funnel all the unnecessary tax money spent on frivolous things by government into wonderful projects like this one.
me too, and I would adore working in a place with this sort of set up!
Load More Replies...Dignity, Respect, these are words with true meanings when I see this wonderful centre
It's a beautiful idea but who can afford over $5000.00 a month. I know I can't.
Load More Replies...Cheaper than keeping them in a Hospital, and much nicer. There should be many of such places.
Dignity and Respect have their true meaning when I see this, hope as well !
Great idea, did I read that right, cost about $5,000 a month? Doesn't seem like what the average person would be able to afford.
and nursing homes are total s**t compared to this place
Load More Replies...maybe we should send the bill of eur 5000 per month per patient to the big pharma companies who put this generation on neuroleptics ?
I wish I could send my mom there, makes me sad her quality of life is not as good as it could be.
This has been a dream of mine for those with chronic mental illness. Yes we need places like this for people with Dementia and Alzheimers!
I recently lost my dad due it complications from dementia and this would have been a wonderful environment for him to be in! So much dignity
I wish my mother who had ALZ had access to a facility such as this.We could not cope with her care at the end.Frail care was our only option
It does not say that the government pays for the residents to live there.
I feel happy for the people who are lucky enough to be there. Respect.
It's a great idea. What shame on UK government that we have nothing like this.
While I think that the whole program is fantastic, it is quite cost prohibitive for most people. 5000 Euros is a horrendous amount.
I too am a medical professional. Curious how progression of Alzhiemer's is handled?
My mother suffered with Lewy Body Dementia and was in a nursing home for 8 years. This would have been so much better for her.
My grandfather died from dementia and his last year was very hard on him and our family I only wish he could've been in a place like this
Would love more of these around the world. Not just for alzhimers and dementia, but also down syndrom, autism and fragile x syndrome
with all due respect to the disease , I want to think about how to live well and lucid until the end of my life < 3
it seems to me , a gilded cage , where we all want to go, the right end of our irresponsible life , delegating decisions to others...
I think this is a brilliant idea. People are treated with dignity & respect.
A fantastic idea. I think everywhere should have a village like that.
I think it is wonderful for those lucky enough to be able to have a place to go. They would need one in almost every city in the USA .
Folks with dimentia often loop back into their past so I wonder if any of the residents experience confusion from the surroundings?
Reserve me a room. Great idea, as long as people remain safe from their self and others.
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