For me this has been a week dominated by the new campaign launched by the Alzheimer’s Society, and I think now is the time to consider how we respond so this can make a positive difference to the dementia community.
The advert evoked a lot of people, myself included, to publicly share their feelings about dementia. This is something I have never done so vocally.
I have reflected on why I felt so strongly, and for me its was the use of the term dead in an advert, for people who are clearly alive.
Of course, I am passionate about people living with dementia, and the people who support them, to live their best lives and I absolutely recognise the pain families feel supporting a loved one to the very end. I have been there.
However, people living with dementia are often treated as if they are dead. Indeed, this was reflected in the quote posted on the Alzheimer’s Society Youtube Channel for this advert “if the point is to badge anyone living with Alzheimer’s as the walking dead, then I agree”
I do not believe it was the intention of the Alzheimer’s Society to reinforce this behaviour, undo their work about “living well” with dementia or alienate people.
My personal reflection on why I felt such a prolonged emotional response was the position the Alzheimer’s Society took after the advert was aired. It did not acknowledge the pain the advert caused people waiting for a diagnosis of dementia, and those diagnosed with dementia, their families and friends or recognised the importance of providing a more balanced viewpoint of a disease.
So how does the dementia community move on from this to gain the additional support it desperately needs to allow people to live their best lives?
For me it’s now all about the response and actions we can make together to make a real difference.
For me, it’s going to be about sharing more of my personal and professional experience and knowledge in a considered and balanced way so families who feel their loved ones are dead can be aware of solutions and how to get support.
But, most importantly it’s about highlighting and sharing the many ways the dementia community can show they are very much alive, so people can build relationships with them.
In life and business, we will all have made mistakes which have caused unintentional hurt. I did it sharing a petition this week. Since then I apologised to the person for how I made them feel and consider more carefully, who I introduce the petition to and how I introduce it.
What reflections do you have based on mistakes you have made, and the responses you have given that could support myself and the dementia community to move forward together to make a positive difference?
