I have spent the last year in phone calls with him listening as he has slowly forgotten where I live (I moved here 30 years ago), what I do for a living (the same job for 27 years), and, sometimes, what we talked about five minutes earlier. I am going to see him because it may well be the last time I do so while he still remembers me.
The new Soldalhus Nursing Home in Northern Jutland provides 96 dementia-friendly residences, a central community building, and extensive shared and service areas. Designed by Cubo Arkitekter with a clear human focus, the project emphasizes dignity, independence, and connection for residents, staff, and visitors. The name Soldalhus, directly translated as "Sunvalley House," reflects the design's emphasis on light, openness, and integration with the surrounding landscape.
I am an only child. My father was killed in a car accident when I was 14 and my mother was 47. We were really tightly bonded after that. She worked at a university and was an artist: she painted and carved birds. She was a wonderful person, who lit up a room and was someone everyone wanted to be around. She was very giving. Later in life, she developed dementia. I left my teaching position to stay home and look after her.
A multiprong strategy will work best. First, you may want to keep an eye on the volunteer signups and, if her name appears, open up another slot so that your bases are covered. Secondly, see if there's a member of your congregation who can act as a volunteer buddy. Is there someone who can foster a stronger relationship with her and reach out with reminders about events, or even offer rides or other help?
The rate of Alzheimer's diagnosis has declined steadily in recent decades, but as baby boomers age, the number of new cases continues to rise. The top risk factor for dementia is age, and by 2030 more than one in five Americans will be 65 or older. That means the prevalence of Alzheimer's in the U.S. could exceed 13.8 million people by 2060.
