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Teun Toebes, a young graduate in his early twenties spends his days and nights with the old-age home community of 170 people and call it a life-changing experience.
There aren’t many people in their twenties who would willingly choose to live in a senior care home, but for Teun Toebes, a cash-strapped student, it has been a life-changing experience – not just for him but also for his housemates.
Teun recalls his recent birthday as an absolute blast, surrounded by his pals: Christi, Janny, Jopie, and Ad. Despite their age, which is at least three times his own, he enjoys their company and cherishes the moments they share together.
These are not just ordinary housemates; they are the elderly residents of the care facility in the small Dutch town of Amstelveen where Teun has been living for the past couple of years. Among them is Ad, a 78-year-old former electrician and father of two, who, like many others worldwide, lives with dementia.
Teun’s first encounter with dementia was during his internship at a local nursing home when he was just 17. Three years later, his great-aunt Greet was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and joined the same care facility where he worked. Caring for her directly, he developed a unique connection with her, realizing that meaningful relationships with people with dementia are not only possible but deeply rewarding.
Despite these challenges, Teun sees the beauty and humanity in his 130 housemates, all of whom deserve respect and understanding beyond their dementia diagnosis. His commitment to changing the system and advocating for more compassionate care has made him not only their friend but also a campaigner for their rights and dignity.
During his exploration of different countries’ approaches to dementia care, the individual discovered that each nation adopts a slightly different strategy. In South Korea, the focus is on preventing dementia by promoting healthy lifestyle habits. In South Africa, the emphasis is on providing care within the family unit. In Moldova, residential care for dementia is not segregated, meaning facilities solely dedicated to dementia patients do not exist.
One of the main lessons he took away from his observations is that money alone cannot solve the problem of dementia care. For instance, the UK spends £14.2 billion annually on dementia care, funded by taxpayers. However, despite the financial investment, the existing system is not one that anyone would desire to live in.
A more crucial insight he gained is that everyone, regardless of their condition, requires freedom and friendship. Even if an individual’s mind is lost to dementia, he strongly asserts that recognizing their humanity is essential because “he or she never really disappears.” The preservation of dignity and humanity is paramount, no matter the challenges posed by dementia.
