Kamal Ghorui
The United States is preparing to open its first purpose-built dementia village, a $40 million development designed to feel like a neighbourhood rather than a nursing home. Led by Agrace, the project will be built on its Fitchburg campus near Madison, with construction beginning this year and doors expected to open in September 2027. The secure village will house up to 65 residents and include shops, a restaurant, a theatre and green spaces, offering an alternative model of care as dementia diagnoses continue to rise across the country.At the heart of the project are eight small, home-style houses rather than a single large facility. Each house will accommodate around eight residents, with private bedrooms and shared kitchens and living rooms. The goal, Agrace says, is to recreate the rhythms of everyday life and reduce the stress and disorientation often associated with institutional settings.
How the dementia village could reshape elderly care
Beyond the homes, the campus will feature amenities that mirror a real town. Residents will be able to visit a grocery shop, eat at a restaurant, attend film screenings at an on-site theatre and spend time in parks and gardens. Movement within the village will be unrestricted but secure, allowing people to walk freely while remaining safe.Residents will be grouped based on shared interests and life experiences, encouraging familiarity and social connection. Specially trained caregivers will support daily activities, while also living on site in separate studio apartments. Agrace says this model supports relationship-based care and could help attract and retain staff in a sector facing chronic shortages.“Living here will not feel like an institution,” said Agrace president and chief executive Lynne Sexten. “We are building households that look and feel like home, while ensuring people receive the care and safety they need.”The US village is inspired by Hogeweyk, a pioneering dementia village in the Netherlands that opened in 2009. Similar communities have since been developed in parts of Europe, Australia, Canada and China. Studies of these models suggest improvements in quality of life, reduced anxiety and depression, and lower stress for families and caregivers.
Meeting a growing need
Dementia rates in the US are expected to rise sharply in the coming decades, with annual diagnoses projected to double by 2060. More than six million Americans already live with the condition, and many experience fragmented or inconsistent care. Agrace argues that village-style communities could offer a more humane and effective response to this growing challenge.Agrace has said that monthly fees will be comparable to assisted living costs. Families will pay for room and board, while medical services may be covered through insurance. The organization also plans to offer a sliding fee scale supported by an endowment, aiming to make the village accessible to people with different financial means.
Rethinking elderly care
The dementia village will not cure the condition. Its ambition is different. By replacing locked wards with streets, shops and shared routines, the project seeks to preserve dignity, independence and social connection for as long as possible.If successful, the Wisconsin village could become a blueprint for how the US cares for people with dementia in the years ahead.
