For example, people with dementia say that they are spoken to louder, that they are spoken to in front of them, or that they are not seen as “full”. “And they might think it’s even worse than the disease itself,” says The. As an anthropologist, she starts a conversation and listens to many stories of people with dementia. You recently gave an inaugural lecture on this topic. The fact of this is that dementia is more than just a terrible disease.
Prejudice
According to The, friends, family and even health care professionals forget that people with dementia still have human needs, such as having meaningful relationships or making a difference. “They tell me they not only suffer from a brain defect, but are also looked down upon or seen as” pathetic, “says The.
However, a solution to this problem is not that easy. “It requires people to be aware of their own deep-seated prejudices. In general, we want the best for people with dementia. And we also think, ‘They’re sick.’ But it’s very hard to put those prejudices aside.”
Insecure
And that’s why more awareness is needed, says the professor. “The voice of people with dementia needs to be heard. The behavior of those people is caused not only by that disease, but also by how we treat them. If suddenly your whole environment is talking to your partner and no longer with you, or someone shuts up when you walk in, so you don’t really feel comfortable anymore. That makes you insecure. “
Social approach
In the movie Untouchable see good example, a social approach to someone with paralysis in this case. “You see he’s drunk because everyone thinks he’s pathetic. And by doing nice things with Driss, a man who doesn’t judge him for what he is, you see the paralyzed man revives.” And according to The, this is exactly the social approach that even people with dementia need
