Global Campaign to Shatter the Silence Around Dementia

NEW YORK - June 16, 2023 - PRLog -- Reimagining Dementia: A Creative Coalition for Justice (Coalition) is launching an international grassroots campaign to transform the narrative about and shatter the silence around dementia through "Taking It to the Streets" (https://www.reimaginingdementia.com/takingstreets),
a global campaign during the week of September 18-24, 2023, during World Alzheimer's Month.

The Coalition is asking its 815-plus members and partner organizations, individuals, dementia and non-dementia-related organizations, memory care communities, university departments, community clinics, libraries and arts and cultural organizations to host public-facing events, activities and conversations that present creative alternatives to the fear, stigma and hopelessness surrounding dementia.

Participants are encouraged to share their celebrations and stories during on social media during World Alzheimer's Month using hashtags #reimaginingdementia, #takingittothestreets, #shatteringthesilence. The "Taking It to the Streets" logo, campaign information and social media toolkit are available: https://www.reimaginingdementia.com/takingstreets

"When I first entered the world of dementia in 2013, I quickly realized that 'what is to be is up to me' so with the support of friends and community, my diagnosis has not been an ending but a new beginning," shares Coalition member, poet and Dangle and Dot co-founder Nancy Nelson. "My life is full of ah-ha moments filled with sprinkles of fun, some laughter and joy amongst serious day-to-day learning about myself and dementia. I urge everyone to join us in taking it to the streets so that everyone affected by dementia can live better, longer and with purpose."

Nancy is one of 55 million people living with dementia worldwide (World Health Organization), a figure expected to triple by 2025 - and this doesn't include family, friends and others impacted. And yet, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias continue to be dominated by a stigma- and shame-filled 'tragedy narrative' that, according to Coalition coordinator Mary Fridley, has led to this very human condition being surrounded by an isolating "cone of silence."

Fridley added, "As we've learned from those who helped bring AIDS, autism, disability, cancer and more 'out of the closet, for this to change, we need to win the hearts and minds of people across the world so that together we can shatter the silence and that's why we'll be Taking It to the Streets in every possible community. And we're doing so with creativity and through the arts, play and more because, as the work of our members and so many others powerfully demonstrates, this is how we restore humanity to people impacted by dementia and ensure that diagnosis is a starting point for joy, connection, growth and new possibilities."

Visit https://www.reimaginingdementia.com/ for more information.