11th September 2024
A new documentary has been launched raising awareness of the poignant and powerful voices of people living with Dementia.
Both the Southern and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trusts and Dementia NI teamed up with people living with Dementia to coproduce ‘Hear Our Voice’.
It gives viewers a glimpse into the lives of those living with dementia, educates and promotes understanding and reduces stigma.
Peter Alexander, Dementia NI member said that the idea behind ‘Hear Our Voice’ is a desire to transform the narrative around the condition.
“Hear Our Voice is more than a documentary; it is a call to action in which we share challenges that we face and invite viewers to follow our “Top 10 Tips” for supporting people living with Dementia.
“By sharing our real experiences, we hope to foster understanding, challenge stereotypes, reduce stigma and support the viewer to provide compassionate, person-centred care to people living with Dementia.”
Naoimh McGlone, Service Improvement Lead for Dementia in the Southern Trust, said that dementia is one of the most prominent challenges our society faces today.
“The number of people living with Dementia in Northern Ireland is expected to triple by 2051, to 60,000 and the Southern Trust is expected to have the highest number of people living with condition by 2032.
“In order to meet the needs of this changing demographic we have to think of new and innovative ways to develop our skilled and competent workforce. Developed and filmed in the heart of the Southern Trust, Hear Our Voice aims to support health and social care staff in providing high quality person-centered care to those living with dementia and ensure the general public can respond to the realities of the disease through these 10 Top Tips.
“Being involved in this ground-breaking co-production project has been enlightening and humbling in equal measure. The creators’ generosity and vulnerability in sharing their innermost world demonstrates immense courage and true commitment to improving the quality of care provided to people living with Dementia. As a Trust, we are so grateful for their time, effort and dedication to creating ‘Hear Our Voice.’
“We also wanted to focus on early onset dementia to raise awareness and foster understanding of this often-overlooked condition. We hope that this timeless documentary, which is available for families, healthcare providers, charity and voluntary sector and the general public, will help to create a conversation about the importance of understanding this condition and what we all can do to make a difference in the lives of those affected by dementia.”
Health Minister Mike Nesbit said that this initiative reflects the health service commitment and dedication to enhancing understanding and awareness of Dementia.
“Self advocacy is a powerful tool and who better to educate and advise on how to support people living with Dementia than those living with the condition.
“I congratulate the Trusts and Dementia NI for developing this powerful documentary which I have no doubt will challenge existing stereotypes and will be an informative way to educate people in how best to support individuals living with dementia.”
Thanks to the support of the Department of Health’s Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) and the Public Health Agency (PHA), the documentary has been shared across Health and Social Care NI.