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Can a documentary help increase dementia awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding dementia?
Carlos Chechetti
Revivendo Memorias
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Background
Studies report that nearly two-thirds of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias live in low- and middle-income countries. These countries may also have higher numbers of adults with undiagnosed dementia, especially among individuals from vulnerable racial and ethnic groups. In Brazil, as the number of older adults increases, the number of individuals living with dementia is also expected to rise.
Individuals living with dementia often face social stigma that can lead to social isolation, loneliness, depression, and a lack of cognitive stimulation. As an under-resourced country, Brazil has limited resources for social programs that could improve dementia awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding dementia.
Research Plan
Dr. Carlos Chechetti proposes a pilot project to produce a short documentary on the lived experiences of two families in the Reliving Memories social program in Brazil. The researchers will first interview the families about the impact dementia has on the family as well as issues such as social isolation, loneliness, stigma, and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their dementia care. They will also interview dementia healthcare workers and physicians. After the interviews, the team will create a script and film the 10-minute documentary, which will be disseminated through the Reliving Memories program.
Impact
If successful, the documentary created during this study will improve the representation of individuals living with dementia in film. It could also promote dementia awareness and reduce negative attitudes and stigma surrounding dementia in Brazil.
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