A 1960s town square has been recreated near San Diego for people with dementia. This unusual idea is giving them a sense of belonging

Imagine stepping into a 1960s town square that has a diner, a barbershop, a library and a movie theatre. However, it is not a film set. It is a space coverted into a town square to help people living with dementia. In California's San Diego, Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers has recreated an Americn town set in the 60s inside a warehouse. The initiative has a simple idea behind it- familiarity offers comfort and a chance to connect when memories of present can be challenging to hold on to.

Inside Glenner Town Square's recreated 1960s world

The project is designed around the memories of its participants, whose average age is in their early 80s. In a video shared by Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers, a representative explained that the setting reflects the 1953 to 1961 period, when many participants' memories are strongest.

The space includes a diner, designed to resemble an authentic 1950s restaurant, and a pub, which features billiards and a ping-pong table. City Hall offers an office-like ambiance, while the Little Blue House recreates a domestic setting.

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Here, patients are called participants, and they can also explore a library with a traditional card catalogue and old National Geographic magazines, a pet shop with a 500-gallon saltwater aquarium and parakeets, and a museum developed in partnership with the San Diego Air and Space Museum to honour veterans.

Other facilities include a clinic, a salon, a newsstand and The Pied Piper Theater, styled like a late-1940s movie house. Activities such as jewellery-making also give participants opportunities to stay engaged.

How the dementia care centre helps families

For families, the benefits can extend beyond the experience inside the centre. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Ray Patterson, 81, cares for his wife, Mary, full time. Since Glenner Town Square opened in August, he has been able to return to everyday tasks such as paying bills and reading. He also gets some breathing room from his caregiving responsibilities.

Patterson told AARP that Mary returns home in a better mood and is easier to be with. Although her memory has not returned, he said, “there's a difference.” The centre's focus is on giving people with dementia a sense of purpose through familiar places, everyday activities and opportunities to interact with others.