Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Public Health
• Gerontology and Social Sciences

Background:

• Walking the Talk for Dementia (WTD) is a global initiative addressing dementia stigma through a unique pilgrimage and symposium format.
• It fosters intergenerational dialogue and integrates diverse stakeholder experiences to promote brain health awareness and community building.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Walking the Talk for Dementia (WTD) initiative on participants' empowerment and advocacy.
• To assess the effectiveness of the WTD format in combating dementia stigma and fostering global collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Data collection via pre-, during-, and post-event surveys and personal reflections from 79 international participants.
• Involved diverse roles including people living with dementia, caregivers, advocates, and academics.

Main Results:

• High participant satisfaction reported across all event elements.
• The WTD format was rated highly effective, surpassing traditional conferences in networking and engagement with lived experiences.
• Qualitative data revealed transformative impacts, including increased empowerment, purpose, and motivation for advocacy.

Conclusions:

• Walking the Talk for Dementia (WTD) 2024 effectively inspires dementia changemakers globally.
• The integration of physical activity, dialogue, and emotional experiences empowers participants to reduce stigma and drive global advocacy.
• WTD serves as a powerful catalyst for positive change in dementia care and awareness.