The United States is getting its first village for people with dementia, with a $40 million community set to open in Wisconsin by 2027.
Nonprofit healthcare provider Agrace leads the massive project, which aims to create a community-focused alternative to traditional nursing homes as dementia diagnoses continue to rise across the US.
It will be built on Agrace’s Fitchburg campus near Madison, Wisconsin, with construction set to begin this spring and an opening planned for September 2027.
The campus will feature eight household units designed to resemble traditional homes rather than clinical facilities. Each house will include private bedrooms, shared kitchens, and living spaces intended to feel warm and familiar.
Modeled after a groundbreaking Dutch concept
Eight residents will live in each home, grouped by shared interests and life experiences. They will take part in daily activities and programming together, supported by specially-trained caregivers.
Staff members will also live on-site in private studio apartments. Agrace says the setup is designed to attract professionals seeking hands-on, relationship-focused work while helping address staffing shortages in long-term care.
“Living at this campus will not feel like an institution — we are building individual households that look and feel just like a home,” Agrace president and CEO Lynne Sexten said in a press release.
Beyond the residences, the campus will include a restaurant, spa, grocery store, shops, a movie theater, and outdoor green spaces such as parks and gardens. Residents will be able to move freely within a secure setting.
“The village will be thoughtfully designed to support those with dementia to keep them safe while providing them with access to a robust social network they can be excited about participating in,” Sexten said.
While the first of its kind in the United States, the model is inspired by the Hogeweyk dementia village in the Netherlands, which opened in 2009. The village-style concept has since expanded across Europe, Australia, China, and Canada.
Eloy van Hal, founder of the original Dutch village, told Madison’s Cap Times the approach has shown measurable benefits. “We see that people stay for a much longer period in a better physical, mental, social, and spiritual condition,” he said.
Dementia rates are projected to climb sharply in the coming decades. Around 500,000 Americans are diagnosed each year, a figure expected to reach 1 million annually by 2060. More than 6 million Americans currently live with dementia, and research shows many lack consistent, coordinated care.
“Study after study in the United States shows that quality of life from the moment of diagnosis through death is just a precipitous decline,” Sexten said.
The Wisconsin village will house up to 65 full-time residents and welcome 40 to 50 Day Club members who live at home but spend their days participating in activities on campus.
Agrace has not yet released pricing details. Families will pay for room and board, while medical costs may be billed to insurance.
Over the Garden Wall Is Finally Getting the Blu-ray Release It Deserves