
Just outside Amsterdam, the small village of Hogeway only has 152 inhabitants. But Hogeway is more than just a tiny town. It is, in fact , a special, cutting-edge community for Alzheimer’s patients that has its own town square, theatre, garden, and post office. Unlike typical villages however, this one has cameras monitoring residents every hour of every day, caretakers dressed in street clothes, and only one door in and out of town, all part of a security system designed to keep the community safe. Friends and family are encouraged to visit. Residents at Hogewey require fewer medications, eat better, live longer, and appear more joyful than those in standard elderly-care facilities.
Could this be an exciting model or blueprint for similar-type communities for adults with developmental disabilities? Read more about Hogeway here and let me know what you think!
Click here for the terrific CNN profile on this unique community.
Click here for an article about Hogeway by the Daily Mail.
The link to the Hogeway website may be found here.
I believe there are many lessons we can model and apply for adults with developmental disabilities.