German retirement homes have found a new way to help patients: building fake bus stops. Dementia sufferers who insist they have somewhere to go now have a destination, giving them a sense of control. That helps calm them, even if they forget where they're "going" after spending some time in the waiting area, Deutsche Welle reports.
“You can't rely on rational arguments with dementia sufferers,” said one retirement home employee. “You have to enter into their reality.” Added another, “The sense that they have the freedom to do what they feel they need to do is very soothing to patients.” (More retirement stories.)