The Dutch Dementia Village de Hogeweyk: An Innovative Solution for People with Dementia
Dementia is one of the biggest challenges facing our aging society. In Germany, about 1.7 million people are affected by dementia, and the numbers are increasing. Most people with dementia live at home and are cared for by their family members. However, as the disease progresses, it can become difficult to maintain this care at home. For these individuals, there are residential care facilities, but many of them are inadequate for the needs of people with dementia. The Dutch dementia village de Hogeweyk offers an innovative solution to this problem.
De Hogeweyk was opened in 2009 and is a specially designed housing complex for people with dementia. The village looks like a normal city, with shops, cafes, parks, and other public facilities. The residents have their own apartments or share a house with other residents and caregivers. Each house has a special design tailored to the needs of the residents. For example, there is a house for people who enjoy baking and a house for people who enjoy working in the garden. The residents can freely wander through the village and move around freely.
What sets de Hogeweyk apart is that it is a closed facility. The residents cannot leave the village, but that is not necessary. The village has everything the residents need to live a fulfilling life. The caregivers are available around the clock and take care of the residents. They operate in the background to enable the residents to lead as normal a life as possible.
The dementia village has already received numerous awards and prizes and is seen by experts around the world as a model for the future of dementia care. It has been shown that the residents of de Hogeweyk are happier and experience a higher degree of independence and self-determination than in conventional care facilities. The concept of de Hogeweyk has demonstrated that it is possible to create a safe and supportive environment for people with dementia where they can lead a fulfilling life.
The dementia village de Hogeweyk in the Netherlands is an exemplary model for the care of people with dementia. It shows that it is possible to create an environment tailored to the needs of people with dementia that enables them to live a fulfilling life. The establishment of de Hogeweyk contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages". By providing quality care and a supportive environment for people with dementia, founders and workers of the project de Hogeweyk and also part of the global society are helping to achieve this important SDG.
More information: https://hogeweyk.dementiavillage.com