In southwestern France, there is a village called “Lande Alzheimer’s” that differs from the rest of the villages in the world, as all of its residents suffer from senile dementia.
In this village, its residents are not required to carry a wallet when heading to a store located in the main courtyard that provides simple grocery items, such as a loaf of French bread (baguette), without charge.
The village includes an adjacent restaurant that represents a center for social gatherings, and the author of a report published by the BBC accompanied a former farmer, called Francis, to it for a cup of coffee and a conversation.
I asked Francis how he felt when the doctor told him that he had dementia, “Alzheimer’s.” He nodded, and after a period of silence, said: “It is very difficult.”
I will live my life despite the illness
His father also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, but Francis is not afraid. He says: “I am not afraid of death, because it will come one day,” and adds: “During that period, I will live my life despite having the disease.”
“I am here to live, even if the situation is not the same,” says Francis. “If you give up, the disease will overtake you. So you must move forward, and do your best.”
In addition to the store and restaurant, the village encourages its residents to attend the theater and participate in activities, and Philip and Vivian said that they continue to live as normal a life as possible even after being diagnosed with dementia.
“We’re walking, we’re walking,” Philip says, looking away. When asked if they’re happy, he immediately turns his head and says with an optimistic smile: “Yes, we are, really happy.”
Then, after finishing drinking coffee and putting on warm clothes, the couple went back for a walk in the park.
No specific dates
The village guide says that time passes differently here, there are no fixed times for doing things, shopping or cleaning, just a gentle rhythm to persuade and encourage the villagers in order to provide them with as much freedom as possible.
The village is being closely monitored, and the doctor, Elaine Ameyeva, says that preliminary results indicate that the lifestyle in the village is already affecting the condition of patients.
She adds: “We are accustomed to seeing patients’ cognitive level deteriorate rapidly when they enter a treatment institution, but we do not notice this happening in this institution.”
“We are seeing a very smooth development,” Elaine says. “We have some reasons to believe that this type of institution can influence treatment.”
Doctors also observed a “sharp decline” in feelings of guilt and anxiety among patients’ families, and Dominique says, referring to her 89-year-old mother, Morissette, sitting in her bedroom: “I feel peace of mind, because I know that she is reassured and safe.”
The room contains many family photos, paintings, and family furniture, and it also contains a large window overlooking a garden.
Since there are no specific appointments for the village residents to visit, the patients’ families come to visit them at a time that suits them, and Dominique says that she and her sisters did not expect at all that the care would be so good.
She adds: “When I leave her (her mother), I feel at peace, and when I visit her, I feel as if I am in her home, at home with my mother.”
Each chalet accommodates about eight people, consists of one floor, and contains a shared kitchen, living and dining rooms.
Although village residents pay a financial contribution to the foundation, the costs of care, similar to an intermediate nursing home, are mainly covered by the French government’s Department of the Territory, which paid $22 million for the village’s construction.
When the village opened in 2020, it was the second village of its kind, and the only one to be subject to a research project, and it is still believed that there are less than ten villages like it in the world.
However, this village has received global attention, especially from those looking for a solution to combat the expected rapid growth of dementia.
Real life
Inside a hairdressing center in the village, 65-year-old Patricia, who had just finished drying her hair, said that the “Lande Alzheimer’s Village” had given her life back. She explained: “I was living in my house, but I was feeling bored.”
“I had a cook. I was tired. I didn’t feel good. I knew Alzheimer’s was not easy. I was afraid,” she says.
Patricia adds: “I wanted to be in a place where I could help as well. In other care homes, everything is specific, but they don’t do anything.”
She continues: “But here, there is real life, and when I say real, I mean it is real,” and senile dementia often drives those affected by it into isolation.
But it’s different here in this village, where there is a strong sense of community, and people really care about seeing each other and participating in activities.
Researchers say that this social aspect represents the key to enjoying a happier, and perhaps healthier, life in light of dementia.
About 120 people live in the village, the same number of health care professionals, and some volunteers.
The specialists provide full support to every resident who suffers from an advanced medical condition.
Although this stage represents winter in the lives of these residents, the work team in the village here believe that it is a winter that comes slowly and is accompanied by happiness throughout the journey.
2023-12-23 12:11:00
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