Glenner Town Square will be the first facility of its kind in the United States, according to Daniel Sewell, a clinical-psychiatry professor at UC San Diego and an unpaid medical adviser on Glenner’s board. While the project is novel, the approach it reflects—known as reminiscence therapy—is common in clinical practice. By using a variety of prompts such as photographs and music, facilitators—including staff at Glenner 7—help dementia patients recall episodes from decades past. Studies have found that the therapy improves both cognitive function and quality of life; the hope is that a fully immersive environment like Town Square could enhance these effects by an order of magnitude.
As dementia progresses, memories of childhood and early adulthood tend to endure the longest. “Graduation from high school, college, first jobs, marriage, perhaps children—these are the milestones, typically, in life,” Tarde told me. “That 20-year period seems to be where memories are the strongest.” Ask a person with mid-stage dementia about Jennifer Lawrence, and you’ll probably get a confused stare. But take out a photo of Judy Garland, and a lively conversation may ensue.
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