Making a University Community More Dementia Friendly Through Participation in an Intergenerational Choir
Abstract
A dementia friendly community is one that is informed about dementia, respectful and inclusive of; people with dementia and their families, provides support, promotes empowerment, and fosters; quality of life. This study presents data from four cohorts of undergraduate college students and; people with dementia and their family members, using an intergenerational choir as the process; through which to begin to create a dementia friendly community. This was accomplished by breaking; down the stereotypes and misunderstandings that young adults have about people with dementia,; thus allowing their commonalities and the strengths of the people living with dementia to become; more visible. Data were gathered for each cohort of students through semi-structured open-ended; questions on attitudes about dementia and experiences in the choir, collected at three points over 10; weeks of rehearsals. Data about their experiences in the choir were collected from each cohort of; people with dementia and their family members through a focus group. Results across all four cohorts; showed in the students: changed attitudes, increased understanding about dementia and the lived; experience, reduced dementia stigma, and the development of meaningful social connections. People; with dementia and their family members expressed feelings of being part of a community