Dementia Without Borders: Building community connections to reduce stigma and foster inclusion

Around the world people with dementia face stigma and social exclusion. An interdisciplinary team from Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia led a collaborative project developing cross-border community partnerships to increase awareness and reduce stigma, promote social participation of people with dementia, and enhance their well-being. The work was organized around three themes - citizen engagement, social entrepreneurship, and creative expression – and involved regular meetings so researchers, community providers, and people with dementia and care partners could know each other better. Dementia Without Borders was organized as an end-of-project celebration, a public festival bringing together community members from both countries to share what the team had learned from each together. The event took place at the Peace Arch, an international park straddling the border between Washington and British Columbia. Over 140 people arrived on their respective sides, created banners, and walked together to the Peace Arch to meet and exchange gifts with those coming from the other country. A picnic shelter was used to display art created by people with dementia and outdoor tables allowed everyone to eat together and listen to poetry readings and musical performances. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with many expressing a sense of hope and belonging. This project has leveraged the symbolic power of an international border to generate new ideas about fostering social inclusion and reducing stigma for people with dementia. It shows the importance of place and history, building relationships on trust and participation, and being flexible and responsive to opportunities for social innovation.