First German dementia village Still places free

First German dementia village: still places free

02/18/2015

The number of dementia patients is steadily increasing in this country. Experts have long pointed out that the health care system is not sufficiently prepared for the disease. In a place where affected people are cared for, there are still places available: In the first German dementia village south of Hanover.

Still places in senior facility free
Just over a year after the opening of the first German dementia village, according to a message from the dpa news agency, there are still places available in the Hamelin senior citizen facility. However, the Julius Tönebön Foundation is satisfied with the occupancy rate of 80 percent. „We are actually a local provider and now have residents from southern and northern Germany“, explained the quality manager of the operator, Kerstin Stammel. As it is called, the condominium reminds „Tönebön on the lake“ more like a hotel than a retirement home.

Model from the Netherlands
In a household, a maximum of 13 seniors with dementia are living together. You can move freely on the fenced area. According to the information, those who want to, can help with shopping at the on-site mini-supermarket and cooking. The Dutch dementia village „De Hogeweyk“ is a model for the facility south of Hannover. In the village in the neighboring country, the inhabitants live in 23 one-story bungalows with small gardens. In the center there is a supermarket, a hairdresser and a gardener.

„No Disneyland for dementia patients“
Not all people are in favor of such dementia villages. Thus critics see the danger that Alzheimerkranke live there in an isolated world. „It must not become a Disneyland for dementia patients“, said the Nuremberg age researcher Wolf Dieter Oswald to the concept. 60 to 80 percent of all nursing home residents are diagnosed with dementia. Their needs, such as the urge to move, however, can often not be addressed.

Number of dementia patients could double
According to the German Alzheimer's Association, around 1.5 million people in Germany already suffer from dementia. According to estimates, the number of patients could double by 2050, provided that no breakthrough in therapy succeeds. Health experts believe that one day an effective therapy will be available, it is unclear when. It is therefore always recommended to use existing options for prevention and treatment. For example, it is known that the treatment of diabetes and hypertension reduces the risk of developing dementia. (Ad)

Image: Peter_Pleischl