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D.C. Seniors Screened for Dementia as City Explores Innovative Care Models
10 Nov
Summary
- D.C. has higher Alzheimer's rate than any U.S. county or state
- Developers plan dementia village on former school campus in underserved area
- Iona Senior Services seeks funding for hybrid dementia village model
In November 2025, Washington, D.C. is grappling with a growing senior care crisis as its population ages. The city has the highest Alzheimer's rate in the U.S., with an estimated 16% of its 84,000 seniors living with dementia.
To address this challenge, Iona Senior Services has been conducting free memory screenings for D.C. seniors, identifying those with mild to severe cognitive impairment. The screenings aim to detect dementia early, allowing seniors to access support and resources before their condition worsens.
Meanwhile, developers have plans to incorporate a dementia village into the redevelopment of the former Fletcher-Johnson Middle School campus. Inspired by the successful Hogeweyk model in the Netherlands, the D.C. dementia village would provide a more inclusive, community-based approach to memory care, allowing residents to live independently while receiving support.
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Iona has also pitched a hybrid dementia village model to Congress, seeking $3 million in funding. This proposal would combine adult day health centers with group homes staffed by trained caregivers, providing affordable, scalable care options for seniors living alone with dementia.
As the city's senior population continues to grow, these innovative initiatives aim to transform the way D.C. cares for its aging residents, offering more personalized, community-driven solutions to the dementia crisis.
