COVER STORY
Breaking the Stigma around Dementia
For many of us, the possibility of facing dementia as we age is terrifying.
When we see friends and family members dealing with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, our fears can lead us to look away, pull back, and deny reality in ways that can be tremendously harmful for people in need. The damaging stigma that we attach to dementia can even keep us from seeking treatment in the early stages of the disease.
So I’m very proud of one of our neighbors, Shon Lowe, who has been advocating to end the stigma since her mother, Terrie, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease in 2015, at the age of 58.
Since Terrie’s diagnosis, Shon and Terrie have been using their voices to push for increased access to care, expansion of services and vital research dollars. I am deeply inspired by Terrie’s determination to take a difficult diagnosis and use it to create meaning and purpose, both for her family and for so many others grappling with dementia and its impacts.
To help make sure that people living with dementia get the informed, compassionate care they need and deserve, I cosponsored HB4388, which requires regular dementia training for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. This bill, which was signed into law in 2022, was the first of its kind in the nation.
I want to thank Shon so much for sharing her mother’s story with me, and I will continue to work for new laws to improve the lives of people living with dementia and the people who care about them.
The Alzheimer’s Association maintains a 24/7 helpline for anyone who needs assistance. Please call anytime, at 1-800-272-3900. To learn more about dementia, you can click here.