What is a dementia village? How they work and the UK picture

A dementia village is a residential care setting designed like a small neighbourhood, where people with dementia live in homely households and can move around shared streets, gardens and amenities. The model comes from De Hogeweyk in the Netherlands. In the UK there are Hogeweyk-inspired care communities and a day centre village, but they are few, and evidence on outcomes is still limited.

At a glance

• De Hogeweyk, near Amsterdam, is widely described as the first dementia village; it has 23 houses and around 150 residents.
• Residents live in small households grouped by lifestyle, with shops, a restaurant and a theatre on site, according to published descriptions.
• A Canadian review found the evidence insufficient to show clinical or quality-of-life gains, and costs and access are open questions.
• In England, any such community providing care with accommodation must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
• Look at the day-to-day experience, staffing, fees and CQC report, not the label ‘village’.

What is a dementia village?

A review by the Canadian health technology agency describes dementia villages as a residential long-term care model for people with advanced dementia. Residents live in townhouse-style homes shared by a small group of people with similar lifestyles and interests, and can use village-style amenities such as a supermarket, restaurant, pub and theatre. Care is person-centred, residents take part in everyday activities with help from staff, volunteers or family, and they stay until they die, with palliative support at the end of life.

The aim is to make daily life feel as normal as possible: cooking, shopping, gardening and walking outside, rather than spending long periods in a lounge. It connects to what we know works in ordinary homes too, such as small-scale, homelike settings and access to gardens, which the same review says may improve quality of life. Read about person-centred care for more on this approach.

How does De Hogeweyk work?

De Hogeweyk is in Weesp, close to Amsterdam, and opened in 2009 (a few sources give 2007). According to Dementia Alliance International, it has 23 houses facing shared parks, plazas and courtyards, and around 152 residents, each sharing a house with roughly six others. Residents are placed in one of seven lifestyle groupings based on their preferences and background.

• Staff: care is available around the clock and each household has a health-care staff member on site. Nurses work in the village, while cooks, waiters and other staff who run the amenities receive dementia training. Staff wear everyday clothes.
• Freedom of movement: the village is secure, but residents can roam freely within it.
• Funding: as with Dutch nursing homes generally, it is partly funded through taxes, with residents paying a share based on income. That is quite different from the English system; see the dementia tax explained.

Are there dementia villages in the UK?

Some UK providers have drawn on the Dutch model. Two examples we have verified show the range:

This is not a complete list, and plans announced in the past do not always go ahead, so check whether a development is open and registered before relying on it. Some UK homes use the language of ‘villages’ or ‘communities’ for what is essentially a purpose-built care home with small households and good gardens. See care homes with gardens and retirement villages, which are a different thing and are not dementia care settings.

What does the evidence say?

The Canadian review found only four qualitative studies of dementia villages in Europe, no published evaluations of De Hogeweyk, and concluded that evidence was insufficient to say whether villages improve clinical or quality-of-life outcomes. It also noted that cost-effectiveness information was lacking. A 2026 qualitative study of the Wirral day centre suggests the approach may support person-centred care by helping staff engage with each person’s identity, but the authors say benefits are likely to depend on adapting to individual needs, adequate resourcing and staff support, and call for more research on long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness and ethics.

In practice, that means a village layout is not a guarantee of good care. Staff training, numbers, leadership and culture matter just as much in any home. Our guide to choosing a dementia care home covers these points.

What are the benefits and concerns?

• Possible benefits: a homelike, small-scale setting, freedom to move around and a sense of purpose through everyday tasks.
• Cost and access: the Canadian review warned that high fees in private settings, limited publicly funded places and distance from home could put villages out of reach for many people.
• Ethical questions: secure perimeters raise questions about freedom, consent and safeguards. Where a person cannot leave freely, English law has specific protections; see DoLS in care homes.
• Distance from family: a village may be far from where relatives live, which affects visiting.

What should you ask if you visit one?

• Is the service registered with CQC, and what do the latest inspection report and rating say? See how to read a CQC inspection report.
• How many staff are on each household by day and night, and what dementia training have they had?
• How are residents grouped, and what happens as someone’s needs change, including nursing and end-of-life care?
• What are the full fees, what is included, and how often do fees rise? See care home fees explained.
• How do residents get outside, and how are risks like wandering managed without restricting freedom unnecessarily?

If you are still deciding between settings, dementia care home vs home care and when to move someone with dementia into a care home may help.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the original dementia village?

De Hogeweyk in Weesp, near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. It is widely described as the first dementia village, with 23 houses and around 152 residents who live in small households.

Is there a dementia village in the UK?

There are Hogeweyk-inspired care communities, such as one in Littlehampton, West Sussex, and a day centre dementia village in the North West. Availability is limited, so check the current status of any development before planning around it.

Do dementia villages work better than care homes?

The evidence is not yet strong enough to say. A Canadian review found insufficient evidence on clinical and quality-of-life outcomes. Features such as small households and gardens may improve wellbeing, according to the review, and can be found in well-designed ordinary care homes.

Who pays for a place in a dementia village?

In England, the same rules apply as for any care home: a means-tested council contribution, self-funding, or NHS continuing healthcare if eligible. Private settings can be expensive, so ask for full fee details in writing.

Are dementia villages locked in?

De Hogeweyk is secure but residents can roam freely inside. Any English home that restricts someone’s liberty must follow legal safeguards. Ask how the home manages this.

Where to get help next

Use find care to compare dementia-friendly homes near you, read EMI care homes to understand the term in England, and try the what will I pay tool to estimate costs. Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Support Line (0333 150 3456) can talk through options.

Sources

• CDA-AMC: Dementia Villages: Innovative Residential Care for People with Dementia (In Brief)
• Dementia Alliance International: The remarkable De Hogeweyk dementia village
• University of Liverpool repository: Evaluating the impact of the UK’s first day centre dementia village (Health Expectations, 2026)
• CQC: Service user bands
• NHS: Care homes

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.