As we step into the middle of summer, more and more people are going on vacation. This is the time to relax and read books we have saved for later or watch some films we might have missed during the year. 

For those who are open to watch interesting films or documentaries while on vacation, we have a recommendation: 

Teun Toebes, activists spent 3,5 years in different nursing homes and studied the differences of residential care among EU countries, introduced in his film "Human Forever"  

For some of our colleagues Teun’s name probably sounds familiar as he was one of the distinguished presenters at JADE Health communication webinar: Optimising Outreach: Communication and Dissemination Strategies for Dementia-related projects in 20 May 2025. 

Teun has a mission: to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia. He has been living in the closed ward of a nursing home for years when he decided to take this mission to the next level.  

In the documentary “Human Forever” we can follow Teun adventures during a three-year journey across four continents and in 11 countries around the world and learn how he looks for answers for the future. 

Together with his good friend and filmmaker Jonathan de Jong, he explores how dementia is dealt with in other countries and what we can learn from each other to make the future more beautiful and inclusive. As the number of people with dementia doubles in the next 20 years, this quest is not a question, but a necessity. 

Teun urges a real change of culture to understand dementia care as a broader societal issue. In his view people with dementia should not be "locked in" anymore, but special spaces could be offered for them, where they have the freedom to be re-created. This film may persuade healthcare providers to listen to individuals with dementia, and consider their perspectives in care strategies. 

Teun also wrote a book with the same title “Human Forever” 

The award-winning documentary "human forever" can be watched: https://human-forever.com/