What does a dementia-friendly hospital look like? As our population ages and the number of people living with dementia continues to grow, this question becomes more urgent. By 2040, the number of older adults living with dementia is expected to more than double, yet most hospitals are not equipped to provide the specialized care these patients need. Without dementia-informed care, older adults face greater risks of confusion, falls, hospital readmissions, and overall poorer outcomes. As a nurse, nurse practitioner, and educator, I believe we can—and must—do better.

Through my work at the George Washington University School of Nursing and the GW Center for Aging, Health and Humanities, I’ve had the privilege of highlighting important innovations in dementia care. One of the ways we spotlight these efforts is through the Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit, which brings together leaders from municipalities and organizations committed to aging-related care. These gatherings provide a platform to share what’s working and allow others to replicate successful models—ultimately helping more communities move toward an age-friendly future.

One standout example featured at the Summit is UNC Health in North Carolina, where a dedicated team has been transforming hospital care for dementia patients. Their journey began with recognizing the need for change and securing support through a grant from the Duke Endowment. What followed was a structured, interdisciplinary effort that trained over 550 clinical and non-clinical staff—including food service workers, police, phlebotomists, and volunteers—on how to deliver dementia-friendly care. Each department designated a champion to adopt a train-the-trainer model, ensuring the knowledge was distributed widely and sustainably.

These efforts went beyond training. The team developed targeted tools like red plates to enhance food visibility, finger-food menus to support independent eating, and dementia-friendly toolkits with puzzles, soft toys, and books. Feedback from patients and families was collected through surveys conducted on iPads by volunteers, giving staff firsthand insight into how these changes were being received. One patient noted, “If I have to be in the hospital, this is the place I want to be.” That kind of response speaks volumes.

Sustainability was another key focus. The training modules were integrated into the hospital’s electronic learning system, and annual refreshers were scheduled to keep staff knowledge up to date. Perhaps most impressively, UNC Health is adding a virtual dementia room where new employees will experience simulations to better understand the reality of living with dementia. This kind of cultural shift—where every role, from security to nutrition, is seen as essential in dementia care—can fundamentally change how hospitals function.

UNC Health’s example demonstrates that a dementia-friendly hospital is not defined by any single feature but rather by the integration of multiple evidence-based strategies across departments. Their approach shows how structured training, interdisciplinary collaboration, environmental adjustments, and ongoing evaluation can collectively enhance care for patients with dementia. By embedding these practices into daily operations and institutional culture, hospitals can improve outcomes for patients, better support families, and equip staff with the tools they need to provide effective, compassionate care.

We’d like to invite you to be a part of the GW Center for Aging, Health and Humanities community. Here are two ways that you can do that:

• You can join our email list by visiting the GW Center for Aging’s website –  https://nursing.gwu.edu/center-aging-health-and-humanities
• And we’d love to have you join our Facebook Group called “Building Age-Friendly Ecosystems” at https://www.facebook.com/groups/agefriendlyecosystems
• If you have trouble finding the website or the Facebook Group, please email us at aging@gwu.edu and we can help you find either or both!

If you found this helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, Melissa B PhD, for more insights on dementia care and aging. You can also join my private community on Facebook for live podcast recordings and additional resources.