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The Dutch Village Where Everyone Has Dementia
HughPickens.com writes Josh Planos writes at The Atlantic that the isolated village of Hogewey on the outskirts of Amsterdam has been dubbed "Dementia Village" because it is home to residents who are only admitted if they're categorized as having severe cases of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. "There are no wards, long hallways, or corridors at the facility," writes Planos. "Residents live in groups of six or seven to a house, with one or two caretakers. Perhaps the most unique element of the facility—apart from the stealthy "gardener" caretakers—is its approach toward housing. Hogeway features 23 uniquely stylized homes, furnished around the time period when residents' short-term memories stopped properly functioning. There are homes resembling the 1950s, 1970s, and 2000s, accurate down to the tablecloths, because it helps residents feel as if they're home."
In Holland, everyone pays into the state health care system during their working years, with the money then disbursed to pay for later-in-life expenses — and that means living in Hogewey does not cost any more than a traditional nursing home. The inspiration came about in 1992, when Yvonne van Amerongen and another member of staff at a traditional nursing home both had their own mothers die, being glad that their elderly parents had died quickly and had not had to endure hospital-like care. A series of research and brainstorming sessions in 1993 found that humans choose to surround and interact with other like-minded people of similar backgrounds and experiences; the arrangement at Hogewey provides this by ensuring that residents with similar backgrounds continue to live closely together. On a physical level, residents at Hogewey require fewer medications; they eat better and they live longer. On a mental level, they also seem to have more joy. "The people here keep their independence, as much as they can have of it, and they stay active," says Theo Visser. "Here they still have a life. It's not the sort of slow, quiet death you get in other places. Here everyone feels at home."
In Holland, everyone pays into the state health care system during their working years, with the money then disbursed to pay for later-in-life expenses — and that means living in Hogewey does not cost any more than a traditional nursing home. The inspiration came about in 1992, when Yvonne van Amerongen and another member of staff at a traditional nursing home both had their own mothers die, being glad that their elderly parents had died quickly and had not had to endure hospital-like care. A series of research and brainstorming sessions in 1993 found that humans choose to surround and interact with other like-minded people of similar backgrounds and experiences; the arrangement at Hogewey provides this by ensuring that residents with similar backgrounds continue to live closely together. On a physical level, residents at Hogewey require fewer medications; they eat better and they live longer. On a mental level, they also seem to have more joy. "The people here keep their independence, as much as they can have of it, and they stay active," says Theo Visser. "Here they still have a life. It's not the sort of slow, quiet death you get in other places. Here everyone feels at home."
The Global Neuroanatomy Association covered this weeks ago.
So nice to see the abundance of options people in other countries have. Is not it awesome to have a single provider of healthcare? You would never think of disagreeing with how those monies you've been paying all your life are (or aren't) disbursed, would you?
And if someone does get so disgustingly anti-social as to have such a discouraging thought, why, End-of-Life Counseling may be just what the doctor might order for him... Living past 75 is immoral, after all...
Well, that means that either it is not a particularly desired option, or that joining requires non-monetary "payments" — such as waiting in line for a few years, or paying a bribe, or knowing somebody in the right place...
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
The socialists fail to realize the basic economics here: as the cost of being sick falls the levels of ill health in the population rise. It's simple supply and demand. That's why any socialized health system results in higher rates of cancer and coronary disease as compared to a natural market based health system. Why otherwise is the average life expectancy higher in the US than in Cuba?
Yes, and Americans have more freedom to make those choices for themselves than Europeans.
You can choose which company you work for, and you can found your own company. Both of those are a lot easier in the US than in Europe.
Nothing, except higher taxation, less wealth, and more regulation.