Here is the revolutionary village designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

As reported by Futura

Some Americans living with dementia may soon find daily life becoming a little more familiar again. In the near future, they could walk into a grocery shop, buy food, enjoy a meal out with friends or even book a relaxing treatment at a nearby spa.

That vision is set to become reality in Madison, Wisconsin, where the nation’s first dementia village is currently being developed. The ambitious project, valued at around $40 million, will stretch across six acres and is designed to resemble a lively small town. Plans include a main street lined with shops, a theatre and an arts and crafts center. If everything goes according to schedule, the village is expected to open in 2027.

The initiative is being led by Agrace, a nonprofit healthcare organization that specializes in palliative care. Its aim is to rethink how people with significant memory loss live day to day. Rather than placing residents in highly structured nursing environments, the project seeks to recreate the rhythm of ordinary community life.

Agrace’s president and chief executive officer, Lynne Sexten, explains the philosophy behind the project. Too often, she says, life becomes smaller once someone enters memory care. Daily routines tend to be rigid and predictable, leaving little room for spontaneity or independence. The new model hopes to reverse that trend by giving residents more control over how they spend their time.

The timing of the project reflects a growing challenge across the United States. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, around 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and over are currently living with significant memory loss. Communities are increasingly searching for new approaches that preserve dignity and quality of life while still providing safe care.

A village designed for independence

The Wisconsin dementia village will consist of eight small households designed to feel like real homes rather than medical facilities. Each house will include private bedrooms, en suite bathrooms and shared kitchens and living areas where residents can gather.

Even the outside details are carefully planned. The homes will feature front porches and neighbourhood style streets that mirror the look of small towns found across Wisconsin and throughout much of the United States.

The goal is to move away from the rigid schedules often associated with traditional nursing homes. Instead of following a fixed timetable of activities, residents will have more freedom to decide how they spend their day.

For example, someone might initially plan to attend a game of Mahjong but later decide they would rather read the newspaper or work on a puzzle. The environment is meant to support those everyday choices.

The village is expected to accommodate around 65 full time residents. In addition, between 40 and 50 adults living with dementia at home will be able to attend activities during the day. Specially trained caregivers will also live on site in private apartments, ensuring help is always nearby.

Inspired by a successful European model

The Wisconsin project draws inspiration from a well known dementia village in the Netherlands called Hogeweyk, located in the Amsterdam suburb of Weesp. Since opening in 2009, the community has become an international reference point for dementia care.

Hogeweyk was designed to help people with memory loss remain part of society rather than being isolated from it. Funded by the Dutch government, the village now supports 188 residents living in 27 houses. Its design marked a significant shift away from traditional institutional care.

While similar ideas have occasionally been proposed in the United States, none have yet fully replicated the Dutch model. That is why the Madison development is attracting attention from healthcare professionals across the country.

Residents of the new village will pay monthly fees comparable to those charged by existing memory care facilities. Agrace has also created a financial endowment to help cover costs for individuals who cannot afford the full expense.

Applications for prospective residents are expected to open in early 2027.

A different approach to daily life

Daily life in the village is meant to feel natural and engaging. Residents will be able to visit the grocery shop, help plan household menus and even take part in preparing meals if they wish.

However, the system has been designed with subtle safeguards. For instance, when residents pass through the grocery checkout, no money will actually be exchanged. Some dementia villages use play money to maintain a sense of routine, but Agrace has decided not to use any form of currency for now.

Residents will also be free to leave the village with family members whenever they choose. Most medical care will be provided on site by Agrace staff, although patients will be referred to external specialists if more complex treatment becomes necessary.

Growing demand for new care models

Around the world, the number of people living with dementia continues to rise rapidly. Global estimates suggest that more than 55 million people are currently affected. Experts expect that number to reach 78 million by 2030 and as many as 139 million by 2050.

Because of this growing need, many healthcare specialists believe that more humane and flexible residential environments will become increasingly important.

Sheryl Zimmerman, director of the National Centre for Excellence in Assisted Living, notes that modern care facilities are already beginning to adopt more household style living arrangements. While it remains too early to measure the results of the Wisconsin village, she says the underlying idea reflects something people value throughout their lives: autonomy, familiarity and the freedom to make everyday choices.