This campaign is ableist, it is dehumanising & it literally positions people living with dementia as dead. Nobody objects to telling the truth, to discussing anticipatory grief or outlining the devastating impact of the condition on family carers. But I deeply object to the use of death as a metaphor for the lives of people with dementia. I object to every single loss or symptom being framed as death. I object to not campaigning for adequate supports and services rather using frightening imagery. I object to the professionals involved using marketing speak about the campaign. I object to the very valid lived experience of family carers being used as a tool to dehumanise those for whom they care. I object to nobody pointing out that the ‘deaths’ or disease progression could have been eased with appropriate supports. This is the darkest day in dementia advocacy I have experienced in the last decade.
We'll be there for you. Again, and again, and again 💙
While I agree with the comments made, I can also feel the pain of loss when someone has a terminal illness as it progresses through the different stages. Where at each stage you loose part of the person and so the grief can take you over. There is an honest discussion to be had about decline and death in the journey of terminal illness.
I agree. What a horrible concept and what an awful message it sends to family carers. Everyone deserves the right to 'live to the end' - with respect, dignity and acknowledgement of their personhood until they die.
Hi Clodagh, l read your comments and watched the video and agree with you wholeheartedly. Describing this campaign as ableist is correct.
I hadn’t read your comments before I had the very same thoughts. My goodness what were they thinking! Thank you, Cloudagh for highlighting this. We learn to readjust, and live in a new space when someone we love has dementia.
Oh my goodness I'm shook after watching that! I'm a funeral celebrant, and this is an insult on so many levels to people with Alzheimer's and their families- I've shared it with my thoughts. What on earth were they thinking?! 💔🤬
Centre Manager at Cork College of FET-Clonakilty 'Tell me, and I forget, teach me, and I may remember, involve me and I will learn.' - Benjamin Franklin
5moIf I had a family member in this situation I would also prefer to hear that they are 'living with dementia' than 'dying with dementia.' The narrative needs to change. I can see how it is important to acknowledge the sense of loss and grief which is felt by carers and loved ones at pivotal moments in the disease but this cannot be the framework from which support services are scaffolded. Well done Clodagh. There needs to be so much more understanding of this illness and recognition of the people who continue to LIVE through it.