In spring 2025, the dementia network in the Rhein-Hunsrück district of Germany, together with fokus2.lebenshälfte and the Rheinland-Pfalz Police Academy, organised a series of five awareness-raising workshops. The aim was to better prepare police officers for encounters with people living with dementia, as they are often the first point of contact in search operations or emergencies in public spaces. Two workshops were held on site, and three were delivered online. A total of 88 officers participated. The programme was planned by Christine Telser (Rheinland-Pfalz Police Academy) and Andrea Kynast (fokus2.lebenshälfte), and the workshops were conducted by Andrea Kynast together with “experts by experience” Volkmar Schwabe and myself, Lieselotte Klotz. The online sessions were particularly participatory: Volkmar and I, who are both living with different forms of dementia, shared our personal experiences, describing how we perceive certain situations and what kind of support helps us most.
These authentic perspectives complemented the theoretical content and made the workshops particularly engaging and memorable for participants. Christine Telser reflected: “That was really useful, not only professionally, but also personally”, while another participant commented: “I’ll take this with me into my next assignment. Thank you!” The positive feedback was unanimous. Officers described the workshops as practical and highly relevant, not only for their work, but also for their private lives. The personal accounts of people with dementia were particularly valued: “It’s much better to hear directly from those affected than from someone speaking without firsthand experience,” summarised one participant. The speakers also shared a very positive conclusion: From my side, I emphasised the appreciative and open atmosphere, noting that my perspective as a person with dementia had encouraged reflection and real shifts in participants’ views. Volkmar Schwabe highlighted the empathy and commitment of the police officers, which he found both surprising and encouraging.
Andrea Kynast stressed that involving people with dementia is essential in breaking down prejudices and fears, whilst also providing authentic insights into their perceptions and needs. Overall, the workshop series demonstrated the value of collaboration between professionals, law enforcement, and those affected. It also showed how targeted trainings can help officers make the right decisions in difficult situations, ensuring that people with dementia are treated with dignity and given appropriate support. We are working together to facilitate another series of workshops.