Voices for Connection & Support

The longer I work with people who have dementia, the more I realize that it’s often more than their dementia symptoms that interfere with living the way they’d like.  It’s often other people’s misunderstandings of dementia that actually exclude them from the community involvement and purposeful life they desire. Sadly, people often stop listening to them after the diagnosis due to incorrect assumptions and, as a result, miss many special moments of connection and insight that people living with dementia still have to share.

The best tool we have to fight these myths, and the stigma they bring, is simply our voice. Whether we’re a family member, friend, advocate, or someone living with dementia, there are many opportunities for us to share our experiences and educate others. And, as an amazing bonus, we not only improve others’ understanding by speaking out, but we also receive more support! The more that we honestly share our real-life experiences with dementia, including both the joys and the challenges, the more we’ll stay involved in community and live the full lives we desire, either as a care partner or a person living with the diagnosis.

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to present a fireside chat for the Utah Geriatric Education Consortium (UGEC) about how we can use our voices, either as an advocate or as a person experiencing brain changes, to empower and include those living with dementia. If you’d like to learn more about specific resources and ways to do this, you’ll find a recording of my presentation here. UGEC’s fireside chat page also has many other helpful recordings of talks on a variety of dementia and aging related topics.

If you are someone living with dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment in Central Oregon, I’d also love to support your voice in our community.  I can support your conversations with family and care professionals through my advance care planning and care transition support services. You’re also welcome to find your voice by participating in a sharing group with other people living with dementia, through the “To Whom I May Concern” program that I hope to offer in early 2024. Please call me at (541)668-7560 or email me at DementiaCommunityCircle@gmail.com if you’d like more information.