Building dementia‐friendly futures: A qualitative exploration of an immersive event's impact on early‐ and mid‐career professionals
Belen Custodio, Maira Okada de Oliveira, Valeria Macias‐Aguinaga, Sherril Gelmon, Walter D. Dawson, Meron Abey, Florencia Altschuler, Juan Pablo Barbosa‐Carvajal, Lenisa Brandao, Maria Florencia Clarens, Jayashree Dasgupta, Madalena Liougas, Joaquin Migeot, Daniel Quesada Astorga, Prabha Shrestha, Sridhar Vaitheswaran, Sara Laureen BartelsAbstract
INTRODUCTION
Early‐ and mid‐career professionals (EMCPs) face gaps in professional development and engagement with lived experience. Walking the Talk for Dementia (WTD), an immersive global program, aims to combat stigma, increase awareness, and foster inclusion. This study explored WTD 2025's impact on EMCPs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and their perspectives on advancing dementia‐friendly research, services, and policy.
METHODS
A qualitative study using focus groups ( n = 15) was conducted at WTD 2025. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS
Participation enhanced EMCPs’ engagement with people living with dementia and care partners, increased understanding of lived experience, and highlighted the role of diverse perspectives in collective action. EMCPs identified strategies for a dementia‐friendly future, including meaningful involvement of people with lived experience, culturally sensitive practices, and strengthened capacity‐building and collaboration.
DISCUSSION
WTD provides EMCPs with opportunities to deepen understanding beyond clinical frameworks, combat stigma, and foster collaborative action, informing inclusive and equitable dementia practices.