Alzheimer Awareness Month

 

Alzheimer Society campaign tackles stigma of dementia.

Imagine a close friend tells you that she has dementia. Would you avoid her for fear of being embarrassed by what she might say or do?

According to a recent poll by Alzheimer's Disease International, 40 per cent of people living with dementia reported that they had been avoided or treated differently after diagnosis. One in four respondents cited stigma as a reason to conceal their diagnosis.

Despite the rising numbers of Canadians living with dementia, and its most common form, Alzheimer's disease, these conditions are still widely misunderstood.

That’s why the Alzheimer Society has just launched a new campaign, with the slogan: See me, not my disease. Let's talk about dementia, to encourage everyone to see the person beyond the disease.

Anne Harrison is one of the growing numbers who understand what is at stake. Anne at 60 cares for her husband who has Alzheimer’s disease.

“People aren’t ashamed of cancer. So, why should we be ashamed of Alzheimer’s disease?” she asks.

Indeed, public health experts say that it has never been more important to deal with the stigma surrounding dementia. An estimated 747,000 Canadians now live with it, a number expected to double to 1.4 million in the next 20 years as our population ages.

While dementia can occur in people as young as 40, the risk doubles every five years after age 65.

For more information about our awareness campaign, click here.

Available resources for Alzheimer Awareness Month:

Fact Sheets: (courtesy of the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County)

From the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia:

Updates from the Programs and Services Department

Fact Sheet: The Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia

Media Release: Alzheimer Society campaign tackles stigma of dementia. See me, not my disease. Let's talk about dementia.

Awareness Month Poster

Upcoming events:

Free Public Lecture - Lets Talk about Dementia: Changing Needs of Care.

Alzheimer Research Breakfasts - Halifax, Sydney and the Valley




    Last Updated: 01/10/13