Video: Changing the stories we tell about young onset dementia
When Natasha was growing up, her grandfather Linus had young onset dementia. But she didn't see her family's experiences as immigrants and people of colour reflected in dementia literature. Here Natasha and her father, Basil, tell us more.
Understand young onset dementia through Natasha and Basil's story
Roughly 28,000 people in Canada are living with young onset dementia. Every one of them, and their family members, has a story to tell.
In this video, Natasha and Basil remember their late family member Linus. Linus was Natasha's grandfather, so she experienced his young onset dementia from the perspective of a young girl.
That experience motivated her to go into dementia-care fields as an adult, and to make space for people of colour and immigrant families in narratives around young onset dementia.
Linus was Basil's father. Basil was an adult when his father started to show signs of young onset dementia. But it took one day in particular to show him just how far the symptoms had developed.
If you or someone you know is living with young onset dementia, your local Alzheimer Society is here for you. Find your area office's contact information now at alzheimer.ca/Find.
Or reach our national information and referral line at 1-855-705-4636 and info@alzheimer.ca to get connected with your regional experts ASAP.