Fighting Dementia With Memories of Childhood and Happy Times

Care communities in the eastern Netherlands are pioneering an approach to dementia treatment that combines relaxation, childhood memories, sensory aids, soothing music, family structure, and other tools to heal, calm, and nurture residents, reports the New York Times . Simulated trips in buses or on beaches create a gathering point for residents, and the shared experience lets them converse about past trips and take a small vacation from their daily lives. "In the '80s, clients were treated like people in a hospital," says former occupational therapist Ilse Achterberg. She helped pioneer "snoezel" rooms, which feature light, aroma, massage, and sound therapy, and let participants relax and access emotions that are often impeded in stressful clinical settings. Although caregivers and academics believe such environments help people with dementia cope better, clear proof of their long-lasting effectiveness is rare. However, Katja Ebben with the Vitalis Peppelrode community in Eindhoven says she has observed that with the newer techniques, beneficiaries require less medication and fewer physical restraints. Residents in many Dutch communities have their own rooms, which they are encouraged to consider their own domain. There frequently is a communal living room and a kitchen, where residents help with chores.