Step Into the Past: This Dementia Care Home Feels Just Like a 1940s Town
As the illness progresses, they begin to slip into the echoes of early childhood. It’s as if they’re journeying in reverse back through the corridors of memory. Constructing a place that resembles a hotel or sterile institution misses the mark entirely. Instead, craft a setting steeped in familiarity something their hearts instinctively recognize.
The Lantern of Chagrin Valley in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Stands as One of Just Three Specialized Communities for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
Crafted to resemble quaint 1940s-style homes, complete with porches that open onto a peaceful golf course, the residence evokes the charm and comfort of a bygone neighborhood.
Lantern stands out with remarkable distinctiveness, thanks to its meticulous attention to detail right down to the nostalgic color palettes that echo the essence of a bygone era.
Infused with innovative fiber optic lighting embedded in the ceiling, the space mimics the shifting ambiance of daylight and the tranquil glow of a star-strewn night. The floors, washed in calming shades of green, emulate soft grass underfoot, while subtle audio cues like the cheerful trill of birds envelope the environment in serenity. One journalist described the experience as “like stepping outdoors.”
“Every element you encounter the hue of the walls, the choice of paint carries therapeutic weight, each decision made with healing in mind,” shared CEO Jean Makesh with the News-Herald (via Business Insider).
With a background in occupational therapy, he has masterfully crafted an environment tailored to the unique needs of these extraordinary individuals.
In a candid conversation with Cleveland.com, he shared:
“My clients shape my vision. They are the heartbeat behind every idea.”
He’s quick to emphasize that the design wasn’t lifted from a pre-existing blueprint, nor was it crafted under the guidance of consultants. The concept was born purely from observing his clients watching, listening, understanding.
“As the disease advances, they begin to drift into their earliest memories… slipping into childhood once again,” he explained. “They’re moving backward in time. So why place them in a sterile hotel-like setting or a clinical institution? Instead, let’s build surroundings they recognize spaces that speak to their past, not confuse their present.”
Every detail serves a purpose.
“From wall hues to paint textures each has a therapeutic role, a healing intent,” said CEO Jean in an interview with The News-Herald (via Business Insider).
That’s precisely why the Lantern of Chagrin Valley is crafted to mirror a neighborhood straight out of the 1930s or 1940s a familiar era frozen in time, designed to comfort and connect.
After discovering how carefully curated environments can dramatically reduce anxiety, frustration, and emotional distress, he chose to weave these principles into his approach to therapeutic living.
“The design and atmosphere of the Chagrin Valley, Saybrook, and Madison locations echo the innocence of childhood a time when life felt simpler and safer,” said
“Stirring those deep-seated memories creates a sense of peace, easing the restlessness and emotional turbulence so common among those living with dementia.”
In addition, Lantern offers a rich variety of daily classes designed to help residents reawaken and reinforce essential life skills and everyday functions.
“I guide them back to those cherished memories. I build a living time capsule one that allows them to fully engage with the world surrounding them,” he shared with reporters.
He aspires for his work in rehabilitating individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia to spark meaningful, wide-reaching transformation in their quality of life.
Through this remarkable facility designed to revive the sensations and memories these unique individuals may have once cherished is ushering in a renewed sense of hope for those facing the trials of age-related cognitive decline.
Learn more about how this unique facility was created in the video below!
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Source: YouTube – Svayus, Business Insider
