B sent me the below video regarding fake bus stops in Germany. They are placed outside of care homes for the elderly, many of whom have dementia.
The thought and practice is that when these folks, lost in the past, want to go home (most of the time doesn’t exist anymore) or to their jobs (long retired), then they go to the bus stop and wait for a bus that doesn’t come. They are monitored and the staff indicate that it calms them down–being outside in the fresh air and having the important illusion of control over their lives (folks with dementia can get more than a little spicy).
I think it’s a marvelous idea that can work only in places where public transportation is common. But whoever thought of it was a genius. You should definitely read the comments. It looks like a lot of folks have day-to-day experience with people with dementia that more than overrides the ‘experts’ who critique any idea that isn’t theirs.
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