Welcome to Main Street
Designed to resemble a small town, Main Street is a critical component of the Center’s intentional use of Reminiscence Therapy in our programming with adults living with dementia. Reminiscence therapy uses sensory triggers (sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch) to help people recall their past. Research has shown that Reminiscence Therapy improves psychological well-being and quality of life, particularly for adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by boosting mood, decreasing stress, and reducing agitation and anger.
Main Street will be a public programming space where there are opportunities for active intergenerational interaction where participants of all ages can engage in a pre-planned activity supervised by staff and passive intergenerational activity where participants are able to choose their own level of interaction. Programmatic partners in the Center will have storefront entrances and there will be space for performances and storytelling, areas for all types of play, rocking chairs for relaxing, and retail space for purchasing snacks and viewing art created by seniors, youth, and children. Older participants and visitors to Main Street will be able to spend time in an environment reminiscent of their childhoods while children learn about the history of our community. The University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ Design and Production Department has graciously agreed to assist with the visual elements of Main Street and update the storefront facades every decade to ensure that Main Street is inclusive of each generation’s small-town memories.