HOME PAGE
scroll
TAKING ACTION AGAINST STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION ASSOCIATED WITH DEMENTIA
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
In our Flipping Stigma Toolkit, we aim not only to talk about how to respond to stigma but also to help readers better understand the realities of dementia. The following are some important facts from the Alzheimer Society of Canada: ​
o Dementia is not a single disease, but rather a group of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain.
o Dementia is not a normal part of aging.
o It can affect memory, thinking, language, mood, and behavior in many different ways.
o Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, but not all dementias are Alzheimer’s.
o Early diagnosis and intervention can help people manage symptoms better and slow progression.
We recognize that everyone’s experience is unique. This toolkit is intended to provide space for dialogue and reflection, encouraging people to understand these facts while also exploring how we can reduce stigma and build more inclusive communities together.
A diagnosis of dementia can increase a person’s sense of vulnerability. Not only are people faced with challenging cognitive changes but too often many also face needless stigma and discrimination that can make the experience worse.
​
As such, the discrimination caused by stigma that accompanies a diagnosis of dementia needs to be “flipped on its ear!”
​
The purpose of this toolkit is to recognize and respond to this stigma and discrimination. It has been designed by people with dementia to help others – including other people living with dementia, the people who support them, and those who do research – to address the challenges of stigma and discrimination.
​
While you can enter the site in any way you choose, we have tried to make the information as relevant to each group as possible.
​
​
CLICK ON ANY OF THE OPTIONS BELOW
The Flipping Stigma on its Ear Toolkit has been peer-reviewed by experts and listed on the World Health Organization's Global Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange Platform as one of their top ten resources for dementia diagnosis, care, support, and dementia monitoring.
Learn about events, activities and what the Flipping Stigma Action Group does in our Newsletter.Â
CONTACT US at
flipping.stigma@ubc.ca
