‘Dementia’ – often used as an umbrella term for memory loss and cognitive decline. In fact, dementia is a symptom of brain disorders and numerous underlying diseases characterized by a decline in cognitive function including memory, learning, attention, language, etc. This can be progressive and can be severe enough to affect daily function and independence. The most common form of dementia in older adults is Alzheimer’s disease which accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
Psychology Graduate and Founder of Dominica Dementia Foundation, Rianna Patterson has been actively involved in projects creating awareness about dementia. Her motivation stems from her own family experience with dementia and the loss of her grandparents whom she loved dearly.
Her latest project is a 60-minute documentary film on dementia featuring her home country, Dominica and other Caribbean islands will focus on how the burden of dementia increases with aging and dementia in a cultural context.
The trailer to her film stimulates a lot of thought and questions. When asked why she wanted to create a film on dementia, Rianna explained that she wanted to highlight and celebrate the elderly whilst using the media to better understand how dementia affects the quality of life and explore holistic treatment for dementia.
“I’ve got stories to tell” she explains. “Telling a story can be a powerful and vulnerable thing to do. If you want to leave your legacy and create social impact, you have to tell your story… and what better way to tell a story if not through film?” The death of Rianna’s grandfather changed her life in a way she will never forget. She was only 16 years old when she experienced his hospitalization. She could not understand how suddenly he began forgetting who he was and her relation to him. The sense of helplessness and frustration was overwhelming and life-changing.
Telling her story has helped her to grow and learn more about dementia. Rianna now wants to help other people from the Caribbean and worldwide to share their stories by creating a platform for them to do so. Her projects give others a global voice and form a united force in the fight against the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. This stigma towards aging is what fuels Rianna to produce social media content to spread awareness and educate others.
Rianna has been thinking about this project for months when she finally decided to start the research and networking required to make her idea become a reality. “It is not just a film, it is a movement and the sooner I understand that the clearer the vision became.” This project allows Rianna to combine her two passions – art and psychology for the first time. This documentary will definitely be the start of something new, a revolution, and a step in the right direction for mental health education.
About the Author
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