At first glance, this beautiful village seems unremarkable, but what is noteworthy is that its residents sometimes forget who they are.
A Normal Yet “Unusual” Village
The residents of Hogeweyk, a village in Weesp, just half an hour’s drive from Amsterdam, Netherlands, lead a life that appears almost ordinary. They go grocery shopping, complain about the weather, and enjoy weekends with bingo games. The only difference between the 152 residents here and those living outside the village is that they suffer from memory loss due to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Hogeweyk is essentially a nursing home disguised as a real village. This setup helps patients live a more comfortable life in their remaining years.
This village is essentially a nursing home in disguise.
According to Open Culture, individuals with dementia are unable to actively engage in conversations, maintain their daily activities, or take care of themselves physically. They are prone to sudden mood changes, irritability, anxiety, and even delusions. Therefore, living among normal individuals can be quite challenging for patients.
Hogeweyk was established in 1993, initially as a traditional nursing home. However, staff members recognized that there was a better way to care for patients. Yvonne Van Amerongen, a long-time employee of the nursing home, conceived the idea of transforming the traditional nursing home into a more livable space.
Hogeweyk features shops, restaurants, theaters, hair salons, and dental offices…
This village consists of 23 houses, with 6-7 residents in each, and there is always one cook to assist them with special events, help them shop, and ensure their safety. Hogeweyk is equipped with shops, restaurants, theaters, hair salons, dental offices, and numerous gardens for the residents. A camera system is also installed throughout to monitor the patients.
Hogeweyk was established in 1993 as a traditional nursing home. However, staff members recognized that there was a better way to care for patients. Yvonne Van Amerongen, a long-time employee of the nursing home, conceived the idea of transforming the traditional nursing home into a more livable space.
“We asked ourselves, ‘What do we want for ourselves and our parents?’”, said manager Eloy van Hal to Business Insider.
A Compassionate Healthcare Model
The staff at Hogeweyk are trained to focus on what residents can do, rather than what they cannot do. They are restaurant staff, nurses, hairdressers, and more, supporting residents at every turn. Caretakers assist residents in using internal currency to shop at a fully operational supermarket.
According to the manager, residents can also use cash if they wish, but only a few are lucid enough to do so. An internal currency is distributed to each house every month. With the help of staff, residents will budget according to their needs.
“For us, the most important thing is to support residents in experiencing a normal day, a day they enjoy, and a day they are alert,” van Hal said. He also mentioned that the medical team strives to serve each resident based on their individual needs.
Residents of Hogeweyk can wander through neighborhoods, shop, and stroll in parks…
The goal of all these activities is to maintain a sense of autonomy akin to that of a normal person, which is crucial in caring for those with dementia. According to Psychology Today, patients living in this village “require fewer medications and become calmer.”
Many Alzheimer’s specialists also evaluate Hogeweyk as “an environment that evokes familiarity and safety, in which individuals with dementia can retain their personalities and autonomy as much as possible.”
Social clubs and art performances are frequently organized.
Every day, residents of Hogeweyk can wander through neighborhoods, shop, stroll in parks, dine, or work if they choose to. Those with Alzheimer’s and dementia are encouraged to maintain physical activity to keep their minds and bodies engaged.
Moreover, various activities such as bingo, social clubs, and art performances are regularly organized to provide residents with opportunities to socialize. These activities help the elderly avoid loneliness, a factor that exacerbates their conditions.
The compassionate model at Hogeweyk has become an inspiration for many other “dementia villages” around the world, such as Korongee Dementia in Australia and Landais Alzheimer Village in France…
