The Forget-me-not-pad opened in the guesthouse as a symbol of dementia-friendly Deurne

To bring positive attention to people with dementia and to raise awareness of the disease, Forget-Me-Not-Pad opened on Wednesday afternoons in Het Gasthuis in Haspelweg in Deurne.

Alderman Riny van Rinsum, together with Petro Klompen, Oswald Verleg and the resident of the nursing home, unveiled the path with tiles depicting the memorable ones. These flowers symbolize dementia.

dementia friendly
The initiative to build Forget-Me-Not-Path has been taken up by The Guest House. Deurne municipality supports these types of ideas and is working with local parties to make Deurne dementia friendly. “If people had more knowledge about dementia, a place would be created where people with dementia could feel safe,” says the municipality.

The Guest House in Deurne opened its doors in October 2021 and has since provided a home to over twenty residents with dementia. Caring couple Oswald Verleg and Pietro Klumpen started the care home in part because of their own experiences with Oswald’s mother, who suffers from dementia.

his mom
The two channeled it entirely, but noted that the care unfortunately sometimes fell short. “What you would give your mother, we now find in the basic principles of The Guest House. Giving people a good and interesting place, taking care of them, creating at least one special moment every day. We make a dance, or bake a nice apple pie, or play together, or Just a touch of love.”

Photo: Deurne Municipality