There’s a special comfort that comes from nostalgia, reminiscing about the people, places and things we used to do. But for people with dementia, it can be a game changer.
Inside a warehouse in Chula Vista, California, Glenner Town Square caters to people going through the early stages of dementia by providing them with an immersive experience reminiscent of their younger days. It has a diner, a barber shop, a movie theater and even a Ford Thunderbird -- all modeled after post-World War II America.
“It just makes my day knowing that my mom is happy -- smiling,” said Kimberly King, whose mom, Jacki Dwyer-Taylor, is among the more than 5.5 million Americans who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. Now, it's Dwyer-Taylor who needs special care. She's a regular visitor to Town Square, where the"main street" is modeled after San Diego, and those who attend are moved from one set to the next as they’re gently guided to participate in activities together.
With family members of dementia patients now providing more than 18 billion hours of unpaid care, Town Square and facilities like it could one day help to alleviate the strain — especially since the U.S. population is aging and dementia cases are expected to rise. Mary Patterson's granddaughter Shae-Lin Carr volunteers at Town Square, where she leads her grandmother and her friends in song.
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