Dementiaville

Episode: Dementiaville Ep1
Broadcast Info: 2015 (25 mins)
Description: This observational documentary series, filmed over the course of a year, gains a unique insight into the lives of those suffering with Dementia.

It is predicted that 1 in 3 people in the UK will be affected by dementia in the future. This complex disease, with no known cure, can destroy recent memories but leave some older ones intact, causing patients to retreat to their past. Dementiavill uses archive footage to illustrate memories, whilst patients past and present are explored and new memories are created.

In the first of 3 episodes of Dementiaville the series takes us to Poppy Lodge, a care home leading the way with its controversial approach to dementia. With many residents travelling back in time to memories and places long ago, but forgetting the present, here the staff don’t correct the residents realities, instead they embrace what they think is true. We follow Matron Joanne & care worker Craig as they endeavour to reconnect some of the residents to their memories by recreating moments from their past. 56 year old John is taken back to his days in the Navy and for 91 year old Les, a 1940s themed day of celebration culminates in him taking a trip out in a beloved vintage car.
Genre: Health and Social Care

The Open University, "Dementiaville". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ou/search/index.php/prog/219099 (Accessed 10 Jan 2025)

The Open University