Free from fear. Reframing Dementia through the Eyes of Caregivers.

In the past, the term "dementia" was not part of everyday vocabulary. Greater awareness promoted through campaigns and awareness actions has resulted in the fact that, today, three out of four people in Switzerland fear dementia more than any other age-related health condition. This is also why caregivers of people with dementia hesitate to talk about their experience. Thanks to research, it has been possible to begin documenting the complexity of their lived experiences.

This project aims to redefine the social meaning of dementia through an inclusive dialogue among researchers, healthcare professionals, caregivers of people with dementia, and citizens. The project is based on iSupport Swiss (www.isupport.swiss), an online training program dedicated to caregivers and culturally adapted for Switzerland.

The project will co-create the iSupport pillows together with caregivers, which are five animated videos translated into English and three national languages of Switzerland: Italian, French, and German. The content will be based on the experiences of the caregivers themselves, and the produced videos will then be discussed in five interactive workshops, called Living Rooms, open to the public and attended by experts in the field. Finally, a summary video will be produced to highlight the key points that emerged during the workshops (Wrap video).

The project involves collaboration with the Advisory Board of iSupport Swiss, which includes various individuals and institutions in the Ticino (Dipartimento della sanità e della socialità of Canton Ticino, Pro Senectute Svizzera, Alzheimer Ticino and the City of Lugano). The results will be shared through the global network of iSupport by the World Health Organization, promoting knowledge exchange and expanding accessibility to the videos and the tri-dialogue model centered on the experience of caregivers.