Green innovations transforming aged care 

The world is faced with two transformational challenges, the caring for a rapidly aging population and responding to climate change. Green or nature-based innovations are tackling both of these challenges at once, helping aged care organizations to achieve better care outcomes while adopting more sustainable practices.

In this unique learning package, you will explore how green care is is being effectively adopted in Finland and in the Netherlands to improve the health, happiness and resilience of older adults.

Nature is embedded in the culture and healthcare system of Finland, a country with very low population density and green cities. Ms Jaana Ahonen will share how nature is integrated in the work of nurses and caregivers for dependent older Finnish. Ms Ahonen will give examples of green care practices and even technologies improving the lives and care of the elderly. Also, Ms Ahonen will discuss how green care may also improve the wellbeing of care professionals themselves.

In 2019, the Dutch aged care organization Pennemes & Het Mennisterf has been awarded the prize Nursing Home of the Future for its various successful green innovations, which helped them overcoming the health challenges being located in a highly urbanized and industrial zone of the Amsterdam region. You will be guided by Dr. Rutger de Graaf, their Innovation Advisor, in an exclusive documentary about detailing Pennmes & Het Mennisterf pathway to develop a natural healing environment.

European dementia villages

Alzheimer and other dementia cases will triple by 2050, reaching 131 million people.

In part as a response to this staggering estimation, entire villages are being raised catering specifically to persons living with dementia. These assisted living “cities within a city” are a radical alternative to traditional dementia wards of nursing homes.

The Alzheimer Village model is already showing to bring more quality of life to people with dementia, to their family caregivers, as well as to the staff working in dementia care institutions. Join a unique learning package coupling live conference and an exclusive documentary showcasing concrete implementations of this promising model and how they successfully normalize the care of severe dementia.

More about Alzheimer’s Villages

In 2009, now world-renowned Hogeweyk was inaugurated, the world’s first Dementia Village. This was the birth of a promising new approach to the care of older persons suffering from severe dementia. Alternatively, to segregated wards, Hogeweyk offers all amenities of a typical Dutch neighborhood or small village to its about 160 residents.

Inspired from the Dutch experience, similar projects began to be developed around the world, particularly in Europe, with the main scope of integrating dementia care into the social fabric of cities and villages. As a participant of this eJourney into Alzheimer’s Villages, you will explore the development of the Dementia Village model in France with the Village Landais, as well as in Italy, with the presentation of the project and daily operation of Il Paese Ritrovato.

You will benefit from live, filmed, and written learning experiences, helping you improve your understanding of how Alzheimer Villages enroll in their nation’s evolving health systems, policies, and values. Finally, you will join a high-level discussion and networking with other leading executives in aging from around the world.