Senior Helpers
A movie theater replica features films that were shown on the big screen in the 1950s.
At least 5.7 million Americans are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's, and only 200,000 of those patients are younger than 65. The United States keeps getting older as the baby boomer generation ages, and the number of Alzheimer's patients is expected to rise to nearly 14 million by 2050.
When they are not at home with a caregiver, many patients spend time at day centers, where they can participate in activities and interact with other people. A nonprofit that runs these centers, the George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Care Centers, has begun creating faux towns resembling the 1950s and 1960s to remind dementia patients of when they were young.
In August, the San Diego-based nonprofit opened the first so-called Town Square in Chula Vista, just outside the city's downtown area. Town Square designs reflect a technique known as reminiscence therapy, which is used in clinical settings to help those with dementia recall decades-old memories. According to The Atlantic, studies show that such therapy helps improve patients' quality of life and heightens their cognitive function.
Earlier this year, the Glenner Alzheimer's Family Care Centers partnered with elder care franchise Senior Helpers to expand their operation.
"Adult day care gives people a chance to continue to live their life independently in their own home," Peter Ross, the CEO of Senior Helpers, told Business Insider. "It is an opportunity to have social interaction when they want it during the week at the Town Square."
Take a look at the Chula Vista Town Square below.