The association Dementia Lithuania has created a series of six podcast shows in a series called "About dementia from different perspectives". As the title of the programme suggests, the intention was to reveal the diversity of aspects related to experiences, challenges and possibilities, when trying to “befriend the beast" of the unknown that, to date, still surrounds dementia. The programme was developed by Ieva Petkutė, president of Dementia Lithuania. It includes conversations with six women. Each of them has shaped a unique insight into dementia from where they stand, with a mixture of everything – hope, curiosity, empathy and respect: Jolita Švatienei, who is taking care of her mother who has frontotemporal dementia, in the small town of Akmenė, and Dr Aistė Bartkevičienė who is the carer for her grandmother, share two unique yet somewhat aligned experiences of finding ways to navigate lives radically transformed by the condition of their loved ones; Neurologist Dr Greta Pšemeneckienė offers an unedited insight into the experience of a professional concerning matters and experiences that are largely unknown to the public, about working in the field of dementia.
Social worker Simona Šimukonienė shares professional and personal experiences of addressing the challenges caused by dementia; A well-known dietitian Vaida Kurpienė introduces how to support ourselves and our loved ones with dementia, by making the right food choices, and how these choices are related to other aspects of health; Lawyer Simona Vilkelytė, who has personal experience of taking care of her mother with dementia, explores legal aspects that can help us to make sure that the rights of people living with dementia and their carers are taken into account. The series "About dementia from different perspectives" was created as part of the project "Towards a Dementia Strategy: Situation Analysis and Awareness Raising", which is part of the Active Citizens Fund, financed by the EEA (European Economic Area) financial mechanism. The project is implemented by the NGO “Socialiniai meno projektai” and the association Dementia Lithuania. The conversations were led by Laura Budreckytė.
