OUR PURPOSE
We are a group of people living with dementia in Ontario, Canada. Our group was formed in fall 2014 with the purpose of influencing policies, practices, and people to ensure that we, people living with dementia, are included in every decision that affects our lives.
We believe in three key principles which guide our work:
1) We are the experts
2) Working WITH and not for
3) Nothing about us without us
As people living with dementia, we have personal perspectives about dementia that no one else has. We recognize that the involvement of people living with dementia has lagged behind other groups because there are often assumptions that people living with dementia are unable to communicate their needs, wants, and perspectives with others. This has led to social exclusion, and this is something we find unacceptable.
We are still the same people we were prior to our diagnosis. We have a lifetime of knowledge and experience to share. Life does not end when you receive that diagnosis, and we want to reinforce that each person living with dementia is still a whole person with much to contribute. When provided the opportunity to have our voices heard, we are able to communicate how dementia affects us and how services should meet our health and social needs.
We believe in three key principles which guide our work:
1) We are the experts
2) Working WITH and not for
3) Nothing about us without us
As people living with dementia, we have personal perspectives about dementia that no one else has. We recognize that the involvement of people living with dementia has lagged behind other groups because there are often assumptions that people living with dementia are unable to communicate their needs, wants, and perspectives with others. This has led to social exclusion, and this is something we find unacceptable.
We are still the same people we were prior to our diagnosis. We have a lifetime of knowledge and experience to share. Life does not end when you receive that diagnosis, and we want to reinforce that each person living with dementia is still a whole person with much to contribute. When provided the opportunity to have our voices heard, we are able to communicate how dementia affects us and how services should meet our health and social needs.