If I'm Going To Be "Put" In A Home This Is Where I Want To Go

The majority of us hope to avoid having to live in a care facility. But if I had to, "Dementia Village" was one place that I would hope to go.

Susan Williams

Founder, Booming Encore

3 min read.

On social media the other day someone posed the question for the community to share what innovations we were aware of as it relates to senior living communities.

This question made me stop and think.

I am now at the age where I've had quite a few conversations with friends about how they are making out caring for their parents. On occasion, I would be told that their parent's care became too much for them to manage so with great trepidation they had to "put" them in a home.

We've all got our own impressions of what these homes are like. And unfortunately, the one that I have is not very positive. I've visited quite a few relatives in care facilities over the years and these places were definitely not where I would want to live out my final days.

From the outside looking in, the residences seemed quite depressing. It almost seemed that these older individuals were reverted back to a child like existence.

Being told what to do, when to eat, when to go to your room, having to share a room with someone that they didn't know (and often didn't really want to know) were just some of the impressions that I was left with.

But I did discover one care facility that should I or a family member need support thought broke this mold.

"Dementia Village" in the Netherlands was one place that I thought was created with the right intentions for care. This small based community was specifically designed to foster an environment that it's residents would feel comfortable in. From how the homes were built, to what was actually in their homes, to the stores they could visit - everything has been well thought about with the intention to create a safe and comforting community that reflected a normal life and routine for their residents.

No one is kept in their rooms. No one is on a strict routine. They are allowed to live their lives as they are able.

It's currently projected that 65% of people over the age of 65 will require some type of care as they age. For many this will be home based however assisted living is something that may be a necessity.

The good news is that I discovered more of these villages are opening around the globe now. I just hope that if I ever need support that this is the type of home my family will put me in.

Here's more from CNN on Dementia Village;