Elkhart opens state-of-the-art dementia care facility

ELKHART, Ind.-- After 5 years of planing and 14 months of construction, Monday is day one for the Hubbard Hill Living Wisdom Center for Dementia Care.

It’s one of the most progressive dementia care facilities in the country and it opened its doors in Elkhart.

Experts say in the U.S., someone is diagnosed with dementia every 65 seconds.

“What if we could take all the best practices and best intelligence right now about dementia and put those things together," said Hubbard Hill CEO, Patrick Pingel. 

They’re taking traditional Alzheimer and dementia care one step further.

36 dementia patients will be able to stay at one of four of homes—the farmhouse, tudor, craftsman and colonial, with dedicated staff in each like Bobby Smith.

“It’s all about the residents. Their day, their way. If they choose to get up in the middle of the night and do something, we’re here with them," said Smith.

Workers tell abc 57 it's just as important how people live rather than just where they live.

“Each household has its own full functioning kitchen, a common living room space, a fireplace. All kinds of ability for people to engage in homelike activity," said Living Wisdom Center Executive Director, Debbie Carriveau.

“People are going to be able to come and live a very normal homelike existence to be a part of the community and feel a sense of belonging.”

It’s all about improving quality of life for memory impaired patients so they’re not just existing, they’re thriving.

“This isn’t about saying no, don’t, stop, you cant do this. This is all about us embracing people where they’re at and saying ya’ll come. We’re going to do whatever we can do to make the day purposeful," said Carriveau. 

About half of the facility has already been reserved for patients.

The first of the patients to move in will be on Monday, June 10th.