British Columbians’ grim attitude towards dementia diagnosis creates stigma: study

It seems British Columbians have a grim attitude towards dementia, according to results from a study from the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C.

The survey found half of those surveyed believe that being diagnosed with the disease marks the end of a meaningful life.

Paula Brill with the Society says this bleak attitude creates a stigma and needs to change.

The study found six in 10 British Columbians have a personal connection to someone living with dementia and seven in 10 agreed that people living with dementia experienced stigma.

“So we see huge opportunity here to continue those conversations, because we know that the vast majority of people living with dementia live at home in the community. And so that means we all have a role to play in ensuring that we can meaningfully include them in their activities,” Brill said.

She says that can include checking in on your loved ones who are affected and learning more about the complex disease.

“We can see how they’re doing, how we can support them … and maybe what we can do to all change our communities to make them just a bit more inclusive and welcoming,” she suggested.

“Having a diagnosis of dementia is hard enough. When you layer on some of the stigma and some of the system challenges that we have, it makes it even harder. So we do know that it’s a disease that takes a toll on both the people living with it because their abilities change. To end the people and the families that love them and support them as well.”

According to the society, roughly 70,000 British Columbians live with dementia — with it affecting about 80 per cent of us in some way.

Visit alzheimer.ca for more information or call the society’s first link Dementia Helpline to ask questions about memory loss or dementia at 1-800-936-6033.