Open Air Museum’s Dementia Program Recognized Internationally
The Hungarian Open Air Museum in Szentendre, near Budapest, has been recognized with the third place award at the SozialMarie Prize for their Dementia Program. The prestigious award ceremony took place in Vienna on May 1, where the ethnographic museum was honored for their innovative approach to caring for individuals with dementia.
Out of 288 entries from countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Slovakia, the Dementia Program of the Open Air Museum stood out after an international peer review. The program focuses on organizing activities that stimulate cognitive abilities and provide therapeutic benefits to individuals with dementia, reinterpreting the role of museums in dementia care.
Through the healing power of art, the program combines culture with care to support people affected by dementia, offering a unique methodological and mental health resource. The museum’s dementia sessions create a sense of nostalgia by evoking memories of the past, with instructors dressed in costumes from the 1950s to 1970s and objects from that period.
The program includes open discussions that bring emotions and memories to life through objects that appeal to the senses. Participants are offered hot drinks served in period mugs, with the sight of a sugar bowl and small spoon triggering memories of their youth, and the scent of period perfume igniting forgotten memories.
The Hungarian Open Air Museum’s Dementia Program has proven to be a valuable resource for individuals with dementia, providing a supportive and engaging environment that promotes cognitive stimulation and overall well-being. Through their innovative approach, the museum continues to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by dementia.
