DEMENTIA VILLAGE

                                   

As the average lifespan increases, so does the number of age-related illnesses including dementia. Worldwide, 35 million people have dementia and according to WHO, 77 million new cases are being diagnosed every year. At that rate, the number of people with dementia is expected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050. Fortunately, a new solution has been found for dementia in the Netherlands: Hogewey, i.e. Dementia Village. Hogewey is a place where residents who are people with dementia can live a seemingly normal life, but in reality are being watched all the time by caretaker staff at the restaurant, grocery store, hair salon and theater. Some people think dementia village is a wonderful idea with the simple goal which is providing the most normal life possible for people with dementia, however, according to others this idea can only be a new take on the Truman Show.

Opponents of the idea of Dementia Village point out that the creation of an illusionary village is immoral. In truth, the immoral thing is not  Dementia Village but the fact that in many parts of the world, people with dementia are ignored and they are living anonymously in buildings or nursing homes with non-stop television. The majority of people are not in  good enough circumstances to provide their close relatives 24 hours of professional attention due to their work, children, chores, and other duties. On the other hand, in Hogewey, everything is structured as a normal village considering  its special residents' circumstances. Hogewey provides accommodation for about 150 residents for a reasonable cost which is the same with any other nursing home and every 2 residents have 1 caregiver. Moreover, the best aspect of Hogewey, contrary to nursing homes, is that people with dementia are not treated as patients or anonymously but as residents. They are able to do many activities; they can experience life as they once had, making their own choices, performing everyday tasks such as gardening, shopping, going to the cafe, hairdresser, but  most importantly, socializing with people who share similar interests. Social connections are important for those people because they give people the feeling that they are still alive by stimulating the brain, instead of waiting to die in their beds while watching TV. Studies also found that loneliness is linked to dementia; it is a kind of trigger for dementia but in Hogewey, there are 25 clubs from baking to singing to keep residents socially active and prevent the feeling of loneliness. This being the case, there is no sense in describing this idea which provides a better life for its residents by giving them what they need as  immoral.

Despiteall of its benefits, some critics continue to oppose the idea of creating a "fantasy" world which is in some ways similar to the manufactured reality depicted in the movie The Truman Show where a man discovers his entire life is actually a TV program and everything he regards as real is in fact a mirage that is created by television producers. People who consider Dementia Village as a fantasy world claim that people in Hogewey may feel fooled. Yes, they may feel fooled, if a member of staff just tells them a story which is not true but in fact, there is no such  thing; there is a real society.For example, the supermarket is not a show, it is real with some differences. For instance, there is no price tag on anything and there is no money demanded by staff, who are trained specifically to handle people with dementia, because these people are the residents, who can't even speak or forget what  money is, not customers. Furthermore, there are no directions for residents about what they have to do as if they were in the TV show, they are free as a bird to choose where, how, and with whom they want to live. There are even 7 different lifestyle themes for them such as crafts, culture, religious, and urban. None of these qualities  make them feel fooled but, instead, they feel that they are welcomed in this world with their circumstances. In short, life in Hogewey is pretty close to normal not to the reality show.

All in all, Hogewey, with all these high grade life standards which make it an ideal place for people with dementia, not only helps  its residents but also their family members; it takes an enormous amount of stress off the shoulders of family members who don't have ample time or proper training to care for their loved ones. So, the appropriate approach to this ideamust be opening the door to more demetia-friendly places like that all over the world.