British Columbians speak up for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Canadians living with dementia are going public for a third consecutive year to change hearts and minds. They are courageously stepping forward with their personal stories in the Alzheimer Society’s nation-wide campaign, “I live with dementia. Let me help you understand.” as part of January’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.

According to Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), forty per cent of people living with dementia report not being included in everyday life. One in four people living with dementia hide or conceal their diagnosis, citing stigma as the main reason.

Spurred by lived experience and alarming research indicating that 1 in 4 Canadians would feel ashamed or embarrassed if they had dementia, the campaign gives a voice to Canadians living with dementia who are frustrated by the constant assumptions and misinformation associated with the disease.

Driven by the understanding that changing the conversation must start close to home, families across the province are sharing their stories of the dementia journey. Through this campaign, people living with dementia aim to show the public that a person’s story continues after a diagnosis of dementia. To learn more about the campaign and read the stories of families across the country, visit ilivewithdementia.ca.

We all have a role to play in making our communities safe and inclusive for people living with dementia. By taking a moment to learn more about the disease, we can better understand and support people living with it. Join the Alzheimer Society of B.C. on January 8 for a special Dementia Friends webinar.