The United States is preparing to open its first purpose-built dementia village, a $40 million development designed to feel like a neighbourhood rather than a nursing home. Led by Agrace, the project will be built on its Fitchburg campus near Madison, with construction beginning this year and doors expected to open in September 2027. The secure village will house up to 65 residents and include shops, a restaurant, a theatre and green spaces, offering an alternative model of care as dementia diagnoses continue to rise across the country.
At the heart of the project are eight small, home-style houses rather than a single large facility. Each house will accommodate around eight residents, with private bedrooms and shared kitchens and living rooms. The goal, Agrace says, is to recreate the rhythms of everyday life and reduce the stress and disorientation often associated with institutional settings.
