The article was about a recent poll in which 100 patients over 50 were asked which they feared the most: dementia, cancer, heart disease or diabetes. The results suggested that two thirds of them were more frightened of dementia.
Could this be something to do with the fact that a cure still seems to be a long way off and we lack the 'we can beat this' attitude that is now more common with a cancer diagnosis? Or perhaps because the media tends to focus on the negative aspects of dementia, which makes for more sensational headlines, or maybe that many people in society still don't know much about this disease and therefore fear what they do not know? Perhaps it's a little bit of everything.
Whilst research into a cure continues and early diagnosis is actively promoted, we still have a responsibility to make life as great as possible for people currently living with dementia. I believe that it's only by creating social opportunities for people with dementia, with their neighbours, young people, shop staff - basically anybody else living and working in their community - that we help to break down social and emotional barriers. The more people communicate with each other, the more they learn and understand each other and the better and stronger their connections are. Fear is replaced with acceptance and ignorance with knowledge.
So let's not forget the importance of supporting people affected by dementia using social and creative approaches. It is in these situations that people are able to communicate with each other through shared experiences and where they feel valued and accepted by others and where others are able to gain greater insight into the impact of dementia on those it affects.
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| A community trip to Eden Project; participants created Nature Palettes, tasted food in the Mediterranean Biome & got to know each other a little better |
Wendy
Creative Spaces Project Manager
