Dutch Village Offers Normal Life for Alzheimer’s Patients

In Weesp, Netherlands, near Amsterdam, the Hogeweyk dementia village is redefining care for people living with dementia. The village, which opened in 2009, is designed as a traditional residential neighborhood with houses, streets, and gardens, allowing residents to move freely in a secure environment.

Residents live in small groups in apartments furnished to reflect Dutch lifestyles based on their personal histories and preferences, bringing familiar objects to aid memory and orientation. The approach prioritizes adapting the environment to the residents, not the other way around, enabling them to continue daily activities like cooking, shopping, and socializing.

Hogeweyk’s model, centered on person-centered care, has been replicated in countries including Norway, France, and Canada. Studies suggest this type of environment reduces stress and the need for psychotropic drugs, improving wellbeing for residents and their families, though it does not cure dementia. The village remains open to the broader community, combating social isolation.