Expositions of children’s drawings to reduce stigma regarding the elderly and dementia
Kasper Bormans, Sandra Zwakhalen,- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Neurology (clinical)
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Health Policy
- Epidemiology
Abstract
Background
Dementia and old age are overloaded with stigma and harmful connotations. The elderly are predominantly portrayed and perceived as depressed, lonely and dependent. This negative perspective encourages mutual avoidance behavior and confronts the elderly with a social death. Looking through the eyes of children at the challenges of the future in elderly care can benefit the public health sector.
Method
In this study, we collected 796 children’s drawings from 98 children of 10 years old from 4 elementary schools. Every child completed a 16‐week educational trajectory with positive interventions to connect generations. Pre‐ and post‐intervention, the children made portraits of elderly people and grandparents who are neutral, happy or unhappy. The drawings are implicit instruments for accessing and visualizing children’s hidden perceptions of old age and dementia. The evolutions in the pre‐ and post‐measurements demonstrate the mental landscape of children, and of society as a whole, is malleable and open to change.
Result
The artistic exhibition reached over 3000 visitors in 3 weeks and received a lot of national media attention. The novelty is in the simplicity. The unprejudiced viewpoint of children can deliver society a more constructive approach of the elderly, and people with dementia in particular. Children can teach us to focus more on dignity, positivity and humanity.
Conclusion
This research indicates that the perspective of children can help the general public to nuance the negative view of old age and dementia. Positive qualities of children can be used to lighten the burden of dementia for society.