Hospitals in the UK are helping dementia patients with a "vintage makeover". This involves fitting hospitals with old-style cafes with a 1950s look; a movie theatre with black and white films from yesteryear; and a 1950s-themed "memory room" full of 1950s furniture. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) said the "dementia-friendly" themes could help patients to cope with stress by relaxing in familiar places that bring back happy memories.
Dementia is a term for conditions that involve a decline in memory, language ability, problem-solving and other skills. It affects a person's ability to do everyday things. There are 46.8 million people worldwide with dementia. Someone develops it every three seconds. The NHS believes that: "Having a dementia-friendly place to stay may help patients adjust better to their surroundings, lessen the likelihood of falls and reduce their reliance on medicine."