There's no doubt that living with dementia can be immensely distressing, both for the person directly affected, and for their friends and family.
The term 'dementia' describes a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) that causes a deterioration in cognitive function.
This deterioration has a negative effect on memory, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgment.
According to the World Health Organization, around 50 million people on the planet currently have dementia, and there are almost 10 million new cases diagnosed each year.
At present, there's no cure for dementia. Those diagnosed with some form of it can only hope to slow their mental degeneration and manage the effects.
Bearing this in mind, it is vitally important for those people with dementia living in care to experience a safe and therapeutic environment.
Now, a British company has designed a range of so-called 'retro-pods', to help simulate past decades as a form of comfort for people with dementia.
The 'Reminiscence Pods' are the brainchild of entrepreneur Richard Ernest, who founded the company Rempods to design and realize his unique vision.
The Rem Pods are pop-up rooms that transform clinical care homes into simulated environments, using a range of retro-styled furnishings, replica TVs, record players, cinema screens, and nostalgic accessories, to take people living with dementia back to a past they might be more comfortable with.
For example, take a look at this vintage train carriage installation:In a recent interview, Ernest explained that the inspiration for the Rem Pods came from the close friendship he shared with an elderly neighbor named Syndey.
Ernest would drive the 91-year-old Syndey to visit his wife who lived in a care home each week. Syndey's wife had been left very confused by her dementia: believing herself to be only 27, and quite unable to recognize Syndey.
On their car journeys to and from the care home, Richard and Syndey often discussed how they could make life less stressful and frightening for her, and it was then that Richard came up with the idea of simulating environments from the past in "pods" which could be hired out to care homes when needed.
Richard Ernest previously appeared on the BBC TV show Dragon's Den, to acquire funding for his projectSpeaking to VT, Ernest stated:
"We create loads of products for care homes and the NHS. The train theme, was an idea I had in 2016, and we have just sold our 400th unit.
"The idea is to create a fun social place, we are trying to confuse people, but to have fun, with friends and staff as people with dementia get to tell their old stories."
He continued:
"When I first started, I was laughed at ... Most people thought I was mad. But I cant tell you, the first time I tried it with Sydney and his wife, was life-changing.
"Creating a space, where someone with dementia comes alive, is amazing. I have sold about 2000 pods since I started, and we now do a lot of full-scale refurb work."
Richard added:
"Within a week of launching, I had sold six of these pods and my life then changed forever. Sydney would come around with me, as I demoed the pods to care homes across the country. He was there when I went on Dragon's Den in 2012.
"Sydney died in 2015. He was my best friend, and I miss him. It's mad that two people from different worlds can be become connected. I don’t think I will have a friend like that again."
This truly is a heartwarming solution to such a heartbreaking condition that affects millions of people around the world. Let's hope we see more of Richard's RemPods in care homes in the future.
