Glenner Town Square, the first U.S. "dementia village," is being designed to recreate a happier time, according to an article on the Next Avenue website.

Glenner Town Square is being being in San Diego to create a completely immersive experience — a faux Main Street U.S.A. circa 1953 to 1961, when many of their dementia patients were in their younger years.

The first dementia village was created in The Netherlands in 2009 and is called Hogewyck; dementia residents and health care professionals all live in the same enclosed village. While Hogeweyk is a 24/7 residential care town with several city blocks, it doesn’t offer the retro style. And Glenner is a day program, not a residential center.

The “town” will encompass 8,500 square feet, 24 buildings and 12 storefronts — including a diner, post office, barbershop, pet store, library, museum and even a movie theater. In it, dementia patients will be able to spend the day exploring this world independently, in small groups or with their families. 

Read the full article.