The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada has begun a nationwide campaign called See me, not my disease. Let’s talk about dementia, which aims to encourage the public to talk about the disease.
Running throughout January as part of its Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the charity hopes to dispel myths and stigma surrounding dementia by presenting facts about the condition.
It also wants to stop people making jokes trivialising the condition and calls on family and friends to maintain relationships with those diagnosed with the disease.
“Dementia really challenges the values we hold as a society and what it means to be human,” says Mary Schulz, director of education at the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
“We need to stop avoiding this disease and rethink how we interact with people with dementia. Only by understanding the disease and talking more openly about it, can we face our own fears and support individuals and families living with dementia.”
The charity has launched a ‘Let’s talk about dementia’ page on its website, which includes a short video of people discussing how they have faced their illness, as well as patient stories and advice.
An online quiz has also been developed, which allows participants to test their own attitudes and perceptions towards people with dementia.
This news comes shortly after Daiichi Sankyo launched a Japan-based Alzheimer’s disease awareness push and the Department of Health partnered with the UK’s Alzheimer’s Society to drive its own national campaign.