A new model for care
In British Columbia, a bold experiment aims to rewrite the script for long-term care. A purpose-built dementia village is designed not as a hospital-like facility but as a small, walkable community where residents with memory loss can live with dignity, autonomy, and meaningful daily routines. Researchers, caregivers, and residents are collaborating to test a model that prioritizes social connection, reduced dependence on alarms and restraints, and a sense of belonging that mirrors ordinary life.
The idea is simple in its core but radical in its execution: create a safe, engaging environment where people with dementia can make choices about where to go, what to do, and who to be with, while still receiving high-quality medical and supportive care. The village’s streets, storefronts, gardens, and common areas are designed to stimulate memory through familiar, everyday tasks—cooking, gardening, walking to a café—while staff guide dementia-specific care in a way that honors personhood rather than pathology.
What makes this village different
Traditional long-term care often relies on centralized wards and a rigid schedule. The BC dementia village reimagines those constraints by offering a dispersed layout that encourages movement and independence. Alarms and perimeter fences give way to visible, comfortable boundaries and plenty of staff presence embedded in the community. The goal is not to hide memory loss but to support it with routines that feel purposeful and enjoyable.
Crucially, the village emphasizes real activities that resonate with residents’ past lives. Story-sharing circles, hands-on cooking classes, and horticulture programs tap into preserved skills and interests. The environment is intentionally calm, with natural light, soft colors, and sensory-friendly design to reduce confusion and agitation. In this setting, care partners—nurses, therapists, and family members—work as a team to tailor care plans to individual histories and preferences.
Learning from history and residents
The project draws on historical precedents and contemporary research. Similar village concepts have existed in other countries, but the BC model integrates research protocols from universities, healthcare systems, and community organizations. Doreen Freeland’s generation often valued hands-on work and social contribution, and the village seeks to honor that spirit by keeping residents engaged in purposeful activities. Staff are trained to read subtle shifts in mood and communication, enabling faster, compassionate interventions that can prevent crises before they arise.
Families, too, are invited into the process. Regular workshops help loved ones understand dementia better, how to support routines at home, and the importance of consistent, patient care. By inviting family input, the village aims to reduce the stress often associated with care transitions and to create a shared sense of purpose around daily life for residents and their supporters.
The road ahead
Early results from pilots in this BC setting suggest improvements in residents’ quality of life, fewer avoidable hospital visits, and greater satisfaction among caregivers. Researchers stress that this is a learning journey: measurements will track cognitive engagement, functional independence, emotional well-being, and cost-effectiveness. If the village model proves scalable, it could influence zoning, funding, and design standards for future long-term care facilities across Canada and beyond.
Policy makers, healthcare leaders, and communities are watching closely. The promise is not to eradicate dementia but to reframe care around human potential, community involvement, and daily activities that feel meaningful. In a time when aging populations strain traditional systems, a dementia village in BC offers a hopeful blueprint for how long-term care could evolve—one neighborhood at a time.
Why it matters
As the population ages, long-term care must adapt to preserve dignity, autonomy, and connection. This BC experiment foregrounds what many families already know: care works best when it treats people as whole individuals with histories, strengths, and goals. If replicated, it could shift the trajectory of care from containment to community, from isolation to engagement, and from routine to purpose.
