Act. Know what you can do to fight the stigma as advised by the Alzheimer’s Association.
1.
Learn the facts about dementia
Talking about dementia lessens our fear
and increases understanding. The Alzheimer Society has many resources, both
online and in print, that you can use to learn more about dementia.
Once you've learned more about dementia,
share your knowledge with others. If you hear something about dementia that is
false or misleading, don't be afraid to challenge it.
2.
Don’t make assumptions
Dementia is a progressive disease and
affects each person differently. A diagnosis doesn’t mean the person will have
to stop their daily routine or give up working right away.
If someone says they have been diagnosed
with dementia, take them at their word. Even if a person doesn't seem
"old" enough, they may have young-onset dementia. If you have a
question about dementia, talk to your local Alzheimer’s Society. They can
provide answers and direct you to more resources in your community. You can
also send your questions to the Alzheimer Society of Canada at
info@alzheimer.ca.
3.
Use person-centred language
We don’t tolerate racial jokes or jokes
about other diseases such as cancer. Yet dementia jokes are common. Don't punch
down on people living with dementia by making jokes at their expense.
For a person to live well with dementia,
it's important to reinforce their dignity, independence and personhood. Using
person-centred language can help you focus on those principles when talking
about dementia and the people who live with it.
4.
Be a friend
People living with dementia don’t want to
lose their friends nor do they want to stop doing the activities they enjoy.
Be supportive. Stay in touch and
connected. Social activity helps slow the progression of the disease and lets
people with dementia know you care.
5.
Hear from the people who experience stigma
The Alzheimer Society works to raise
awareness of the realities of dementia, and fight the effects of stigma.
However, there is perhaps no better way to know what stigma is than to listen
to the people who have experienced it firsthand.
Visit ilivewithdementia.ca
to read the stories of people living
with dementia, families and caregivers. Let them help you understand what it's
like to live with dementia and face stigma.
6.
Test your attitude
Take their quiz on
misinformation and stereotypes about dementia. It offers six scenarios that
involve dementia and asks how you would handle each situation.
It only takes five to ten minutes. There
are no right or wrong answers, but your responses may surprise you!
7.
Encourage early diagnosis
People with dementia can live meaningful
and productive lives for many years after an early diagnosis. Dementia
diagnosed early helps both the person and family members to learn about the
disease, set realistic expectations and plan for their future together.
By encouraging early diagnosis, you can
help eliminate the stigma around dementia.
8.
Support the caregiver
Caregivers need support, too. Knowing more
about what they go through is a good start – most caregivers wish that more
people understood the realities of caring for someone living with dementia.
If you know someone who is caring for a
person living with dementia, it's important that you show understanding and
offer help. They will appreciate it.
9.
Stay informed
Follow
the Alzheimer Society of Canada on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get the
latest news about dementia and the stories of people who live well with the
disease. Sharing these stories can increase awareness of dementia among the
people in your social networks.
https://www.facebook.com/AlzheimerCanada
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alzcanada
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alzheimercanada/ (in English only)
They
also encourage you to support their campaigns that raise awareness of the many
issues that surround dementia in Canada. Initiatives like the Canadian Charterof Rights for People with Dementia, Dementia-Friendly Canada and Canada's
national dementia strategy all strive to reduce stigma against people living
with dementia, families and caregivers in Canada.
10.
Remember the person inside
Above all, it's important to remember that
people living with dementia are still people. Dementia does not change that.
What is always constant is that there are
still lives to be lived, dreams to pursue and people to love.
If you have a friend or family member
diagnosed with dementia, know that feelings of loss and grief are normal, and
will likely grow more intense as the disease progresses.
However, it's possible for the person to
live well with dementia, and maintain their quality of life for as long as
possible. And you can help that person live well, too.
Check
out more reports on dementia to understand the
national and global impact of dementia.
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