Dementia and Care with Dignity

I few weeks ago I wrote about an environmental and arts in health  program that I had been involved in to enhance the environment of a medical ward housing demetia patients in the West of Ireland. With the recent deaths in Canada of Alzheimer patients who have wandered out of their care facility, I have been compelled to undertake further research and explorations into what is possible for the care of the elderly with severe Alzheimer disease.

What follows is a video done by CNN during which we are invited by Dr. Gupta to travel to Hogewey, a small village in Weesp, the Netherlands, to a nursing home that is really a village complete with shops, hair salons and community programmes. The architectural adaptations, nursing care, and arts activities such as music, cooking and other projects, allow patients to participate in their community and succeeds in providing a safe, healthy living environment.

We are taken to a wonderful village in which people are enabled to lead a life with dignity despite their severe dementia. It illustrates what can be done with creativity, architectural adaptations and proper training for all staff.

We in Canada need to learn a lesson!