Open the Doors: Teun Toebes Calls for Global Change in Dementia Care

In his powerful call to “open the doors,” Teun Toebes – who voluntarily lived on a locked dementia ward for 3.5 years – urges the world to rethink care and restore freedom and dignity to people living with dementia.

A Global Movement to Open the Doors in Dementia Care

“We need a more honest picture of living with dementia,” says healthcare activist and author Teun Toebes. He speaks from deep personal experience—not just as a campaigner, but as someone who chose to live for 3.5 years on a closed ward alongside people with dementia.

That unique choice formed the heart of his book Human Forever and the moving international documentary of the same name, which has inspired a worldwide rethink of dementia care. Teun’s message is simple but profound: everyone deserves to live in freedom, regardless of their diagnosis.

Breaking Free from Isolation and Stigma

Across much of the world, people with dementia are still locked behind closed doors—often in the name of safety. But as Teun reminds us, “People are living in a world full of isolation and a feeling of not belonging to society.”

This systemic exclusion reflects outdated fears and stigmas. It’s time to replace those with compassion, inclusion, and evidence-based care that prioritizes quality of life.

Life Includes Risk—And So Should Dementia Care

One of the biggest fears people express about open care models is the risk: “What if someone walks into the street?” But Teun counters,

“We have to accept risks that are just normal in everyone’s ordinary life.”

Source : human-forever.com

Risk is a part of being alive, and the alternative is not safety, but isolation.

His experience proves that when people are treated with trust and respect, they flourish.

10 Steps to Create Freedom-Based Dementia Care

These 10 practical actions help caregivers, institutions, and communities move from fear to freedom:

1. Share responsibility – Freedom and inclusion must be co-created with families and communities.
2. Challenge dominant fears – Push back on fear-based arguments and look at real data.
3. Accept normal life risks – Living fully means embracing some level of uncertainty.
4. Communicate honestly – Show realistic, inclusive stories—not just polished images.
5. Go beyond unlocked doors – Enable real-world engagement and continued purpose.
6. Prioritize culture over tech – Cameras and bracelets can’t replace human connection.
7. Remove subtle restrictions – Even signs and wristbands can create feelings of captivity.
8. Ditch labels – Dementia is not one identity. Treat everyone as a whole individual.
9. Talk openly about death – A dignified life includes a dignified end.
10. Engage with media transparently – Educate, don’t hide, when questions arise.

Teun Toebes: “We Can, and Must, Do Better”

In his closing words, Teun issues a heartfelt invitation:

“Don’t put people away in closed wards. Accept the risks which are self-evident. Open the doors.”

This isn’t just a policy proposal; it’s a human rights imperative. And it’s already happening in care facilities around the world, showing that freedom and support can go hand in hand.

From Locked Wards to Global Inspiration

Teun’s story has moved thousands globally, and now his journey is available to all in the acclaimed documentary Human Forever. This powerful film follows his travels to over 15 countries as he explores the best (and worst) dementia care practices.

🎥 Watch and learn more: Teun Toebes’ Human Forever documentary on BrightVibes

Join the Movement: Live Human, Live Free

Whether you’re a policymaker, care worker, or loved one, you can help shift the system:

• 📢 Share this story with the hashtag #OpenTheDoors
• 📚 Learn more and support Teun’s mission at teuntoebes.com
• 🌍 Discover inspiring changemakers on BrightVibes.com

It’s time to unlock not just doors, but lives. Let’s build a world where everyone lives in freedom, not fear. Because we are all Human Forever.