THE ROAD TO NOWHERE

A German nursing home has set up a fake bus stop in front of their building in order to stop Alzheimer’s patients from trying to escape. The Benrath Senior Centre in Dusseldorf came up with the unique idea after too many patients wandered off and had to be found by the police. “Our members are 84 years-old on average,” explained a nursing home worker. “Their short-term memory hardly works at all, but the long-term memory is still active. They know the green and yellow bus sign and remember that waiting there means they will go home.” But not anymore. Now when the seniors have a seat at the bus stop they are rounded up by the staff. “We will approach them and say that the bus is coming later today and invite them in to the home for a coffee... Five minutes later they have completely forgotten they wanted to leave.” (The Telegraph)