2 Walking routes
The forget me not route in Vanløse. Photo: Københavns Kommune
Purple benches along the Aarhus Forget Me Not route. Photos: Aarhus Kommune / Demensvenlig By Aarhus
See it in action
Copenhagen, Denmark – Forget me not route
Aarhus, Denmark - Forget me not route
Dementia-inclusive walking routes offer safe spaces for people living with dementia and their care partners to spend time and enjoy fresh air. A well-designed solution can also foster community awareness and understanding.
Challenge: People living with dementia can experience difficulties with finding their way around the neighbourhood. Stigma and lack of awareness pose challenges for people living with dementia to stay connected to their communities. Without safe paths and places to visit, people may gradually abandon visiting community spaces, which can negatively impact their health.
Solution overview: Safe access to public spaces supports mental and physical health. Several Danish municipalities have installed bright purple “Forget Me Not” benches to raise awareness about dementia and reduce stigma.
Each bench shares information about dementia, including prevention, signs of dementia, quotes, first-person stories, and more. The benches have QR codes that people can scan to learn more.
The benches are placed along accessible walking and rolling routes, creating a destination and encouraging individuals living with dementia and their caregivers to take leisurely walks, observe others, and appreciate nature.
In Vanløse in Copenhagen, the municipality placed six benches around a neighbourhood park, next to playgrounds, a museum, and a lake. In Aarhus, the walking route travels between benches placed at local destinations and landmarks, including City Hall, local parks, the botanical gardens, and a historic church.
Solution overview: Safe access to public spaces supports mental and physical health. Several Danish municipalities have installed bright purple “Forget Me Not” benches to raise awareness about dementia and reduce stigma.
Each bench shares information about dementia, including prevention, signs of dementia, quotes, first-person stories, and more. The benches have QR codes that people can scan to learn more.
The benches are placed along accessible walking and rolling routes, creating a destination and encouraging individuals living with dementia and their caregivers to take leisurely walks, observe others, and appreciate nature.
In Vanløse in Copenhagen, the municipality placed six benches around a neighbourhood park, next to playgrounds, a museum, and a lake. In Aarhus, the walking route travels between benches placed at local destinations and landmarks, including City Hall, local parks, the botanical gardens, and a historic church.
Relevance to the guidelines
Strategy 1.5 Open spaces
Strategy 2.1 Pedestrian paths and sidewalks
Strategy 3.1 Seating
Strategy 3.3 Placemaking
Strategy 3.10 Vegetation