Continuing on from yesterdays blog, which was from my presentation yesterday, it has been my experience that often others feel threatened when people express their need or desire for change, especially if it is to service providers or policy makers. In this case, I am talking about PWD. There is no need to feel threatened, as it is merely an opportunity to engage in discussions with consumers, and the chance to review practices or policy. And then, sometimes the decision is made not to change things, but a healthy conversation between people, e.g. consumers and a service providers, has taken place and a deeper understanding arises out of the experience.
It is important to highlight expressing a desire for change it is not done to discredit current services. Services can only change when providers know or see there is a need to change them, and unless PWD speak up, how will you ever know it is not working for us? This is why PWD dementia must to speak up, as advocates for themselves, and educators to service providers. It serves as a catalyst to encourage change in attitudes and services, thereby helps to bring about change. Through the power of personal stories, I hope PWD can educate, and then empower service providers to
Through the power of personal stories, all around the world, people with dementia hope to help others see the need for change, and then help to bring about change. I met an inspirational person in New Zealand, Dr Tom Mulholland, a medical doctor and now a professional speaker. When he was wanting to break into the professional speaker circuit, he applied for numerous speaking gigs without success. After attending lots of events, he realised the people who were being accepted to present had powerful personal stories, so he changed his presentations and story to include his own personal battles wit depression. Viola… his next application to speak was accepted!
Yesterday, many people spoke to me afterwards, it was the personal story part of my presentation that resonated for them, and helped some to see the need for change. My hope for the future is for more PWD to have the courage to speak up more often, and I can feel a change in organisations who are wanting us to help them understand what is, and what isn’t, working for us. Sometimes change is simply not possible due to a lack of funding, or current policy that simply does now allow it. But sometimes it is, and everyone benefits.
