The Long Goodbye: our new advertising campaign

[Grannie G]

There have been many negative comments about this campaign but no one has offered an alternative to heightening awareness of dementia in those who have no experience of it.

Is that ok? Do we just get on with it and accept being the poor relation of serious illnesses?

At least the society is trying to raise awareness.

It`s heartbreaking so many are upset by this latest campaign, especially people who do have dementia , but even more heartbreaking to be ignored , misunderstood or swept under the carpet.

 

[SeaSwallow]

Well said @Grannie G . Years ago cancer was whispered about, I can remember that clearly when my granny was diagnosed. It was only as people began to be more open that things changed. Yes, the campaign must be hard for some people to watch but without more awareness nothing will change.

 

[maggie6445]

Well said @Grannie G . Years ago cancer was whispered about, I can remember that clearly when my granny was diagnosed. It was only as people began to be more open that things changed. Yes, the campaign must be hard for some people to watch but without more awareness nothing will change.

👏

 

[Izzy]

Well said @Grannie G . Years ago cancer was whispered about, I can remember that clearly when my granny was diagnosed. It was only as people began to be more open that things changed. Yes, the campaign must be hard for some people to watch but without more awareness nothing will change.

👏👏

 

[sdmhred]

I think we have potential in numbers @Grannie G
We need something that is easy for carers to do - @Dave63 had an idea of some sort of flooding the system with emails / texts/ tweets…almost a bit of subversive awareness raising..


Perhaps pick a week and on Monday contact about late diagnosis, Tuesday funding issues, Wednesday lack of daycare etc..


All letters organised by someone like the Alz Soc - so very easy for carers to implement

At the same time …flood the press…those who are able do something a bit outrageous like Fathers for Injustice did ……

Once you get the headlines there may be space for the conversation to open up. …..

And we give the message to all political parties that there are literally millions of us who are affected by dementia who will soon be holding a polling card.

My out of the box thoughts!!

My suggestions…..plus something less emotive but factual.

I agree @Grannie G we need to contribute ideas!

 

[Neveradullday!]

Just thinking aloud here (always a dangerous moment!).
The Alzheimer's Society want awareness to be raised. Do people want to take any notice? I think I might have just switched it off, it's so grim.
Awareness may get raised a bit, what difference will that really make?

It seems to me, reading the forum, where awareness needs to be raised of the realities of dementia is in the medical community - doctors/nurses/hospitals, where the care for those challenged with this falls way short.
In the meantime, we've got carers trying to shield their loved ones from this advert.

 

[jennifer1967]

There have been many negative comments about this campaign but no one has offered an alternative to heightening awareness of dementia in those who have no experience of it.

Is that ok? Do we just get on with it and accept being the poor relation of serious illnesses?

At least the society is trying to raise awareness.

It`s heartbreaking so many are upset by this latest campaign, especially people who do have dementia , but even more heartbreaking to be ignored , misunderstood or swept under the carpet.

i think keep going, keep drip feeding, constant awareness. many years ago, it was mental health deemed crazy and insane and locked away for decades because there was no awareness, stigma, fear of the unknown, that was the cinderella service then until it became "fashionable. maybe more factual. with cancer, its all ages and kids have a big appeal. dementia[ other than the rare one that children can get] is predominantly middle/older age. i think that is the biggest hurdle to get over. maybe we need to see the good and the bad to get a more balanced view. i still feel that we shield our cared for and carers too much. yes its upsetting but it is reality and its a hard world out there. i think that it has been hushed up so much and so often that when reality starts to be shown, its shocking. as the campaign gets more and more real, maybe only then people will engage.
medics, social services,specialists should play their part and seek to be educated and understand and therefore educate others. a domino affect, its got to start for it to change. sorry just my thoughts and trying to work out how it could work.
@Grannie G @SeaSwallow i agree someone has to put their nose over the parapet make a commitment to talk about dementia

 

[maggie6445]

i think keep going, keep drip feeding, constant awareness. many years ago, it was mental health deemed crazy and insane and locked away for decades because there was no awareness, stigma, fear of the unknown, that was the cinderella service then until it became "fashionable. maybe more factual. with cancer, its all ages and kids have a big appeal. dementia[ other than the rare one that children can get] is predominantly middle/older age. i think that is the biggest hurdle to get over. maybe we need to see the good and the bad to get a more balanced view. i still feel that we shield our cared for and carers too much. yes its upsetting but it is reality and its a hard world out there. i think that it has been hushed up so much and so often that when reality starts to be shown, its shocking. as the campaign gets more and more real, maybe only then people will engage.
medics, social services,specialists should play their part and seek to be educated and understand and therefore educate others. a domino affect, its got to start for it to change. sorry just my thoughts and trying to work out how it could work.
@Grannie G @SeaSwallow i agree someone has to put their nose over the parapet make a commitment to talk about dementia

👏

 

[nitram]

My suggestions…..plus something less emotive but factual.

Something along the lines of the AR orange?

Share the Orange

Help change the conversation around dementia, please watch and #ShareTheOrange today.

www.alzheimersresearchuk.org

 

[Canna]

I thought the advert was moving. Yes, it made me cry, but it felt very real and spoke directly to my own experience. There are many moments when Mum died for us - when she forgot how to make her legendary meringues; when she didn't recognise her beloved grandson; when she thought I was her mum.... For me the advert was painful because it is true.

I'm not entirely sure what message the advert was trying to get across, but I would like to see the Alzheimer Society campaigning for improved access to medical and social services - funding for which have been dramatically eroded over recent years.

 

[sdmhred]

Yes

Something along the lines of the AR orange?

Share the Orange

Help change the conversation around dementia, please watch and #ShareTheOrange today.

www.alzheimersresearchuk.org

I like that - it is factual, a little hard hitting but also offers hope.

i would use the orange as a theme and flashmob it everywhere over a 2 week period.

- carers to email MPs each day with an orange designed advert highlighting a part of dementia care each day
- ask big monuments / football etc to project an orange
- deliver oranges to 10 downing st
- leave skips of oranges in prominent places
- Tv adverts
- social media
- ask celebrities to appear on TV with an orange T shirt.

so that by the end of the fortnight - everyone could associate an orange with dementia …and have some increased awareness of symptoms, practical issues like funding, care provision, prevention, research etc.

 

[nitram]

Orange is part of an AR campaign not AS, nothing to stop you using it, the title is 'share the orange'.

 

[SeaSwallow]

i think keep going, keep drip feeding, constant awareness. many years ago, it was mental health deemed crazy and insane and locked away for decades because there was no awareness, stigma, fear of the unknown, that was the cinderella service then until it became "fashionable. maybe more factual. with cancer, its all ages and kids have a big appeal. dementia[ other than the rare one that children can get] is predominantly middle/older age. i think that is the biggest hurdle to get over. maybe we need to see the good and the bad to get a more balanced view. i still feel that we shield our cared for and carers too much. yes its upsetting but it is reality and its a hard world out there. i think that it has been hushed up so much and so often that when reality starts to be shown, its shocking. as the campaign gets more and more real, maybe only then people will engage.
medics, social services,specialists should play their part and seek to be educated and understand and therefore educate others. a domino affect, its got to start for it to change. sorry just my thoughts and trying to work out how it could work.
@Grannie G @SeaSwallow i agree someone has to put their nose over the parapet make a commitment to talk about dementia

Again, well said.

 

[lollyc]

Yes

I like that - it is factual, a little hard hitting but also offers hope.

i would use the orange as a theme and flashmob it everywhere over a 2 week period.

- carers to email MPs each day with an orange designed advert highlighting a part of dementia care each day
- ask big monuments / football etc to project an orange
- deliver oranges to 10 downing st
- leave skips of oranges in prominent places
- Tv adverts
- social media
- ask celebrities to appear on TV with an orange T shirt.

so that by the end of the fortnight - everyone could associate an orange with dementia …and have some increased awareness of symptoms, practical issues like funding, care provision, prevention, research etc.

I hadn't heard of this, but I like it. Nothing to upset those living with the disease, but explains it those who don't have any experience. I hate to say it, but more people are likely to listen to a famous actor than a 'nobody' talking about their mum.

 

[Kevinl]

Go on put it to the public vote in here, thumbs up or down.

 

[nitram]

Cancer was the big C with a life expectancy of weeks or months.

Reporting on continually improving diagnostics and successful treatments raised awareness and knowledge, it's no longer the hushed big C, it's openly discussed stage n of cancer x, maybe even primary or metastasised.

 

[Neveradullday!]

Cancer was the big C with a life expectancy of weeks or months.

Reporting on continually improving diagnostics and successful treatments raised awareness and knowledge, it's no longer the hushed big C, it's openly discussed stage n of cancer x, maybe even primary or metastasised.

It was interesting to read in the Guardian article a few posts ago, that for every £1 spent on cancer research, just 31p goes to dementia research.

 

[jennifer1967]

Again, well said.

i must admit to feeling forgotten with a different dementia. none of the other types ever get mention on any publications. some members say alzheimers and dementia when referring to mixed. not mixed dementia, alzheimers and which ever. maybe instead of die they could use lose as a lot of people dont like the word die but passed or lost bits of them. it wouldnt hit so hard but still has the same meaning.
i have emails from the campaign team which suggest writing to your mp and inviting them to the alz. soc. table when they have party conferences. the problem is that many of the national mps are not standing this election so maybe need to wait until general election to get fresh interest rather than to someone who is winding down.

 

[Kevinl]

Wow, just wow well said you. K

 

[backin]

I'd just like to see a bit more truth. Maybe someone just shouting and accusing the carer of stealing or hiding things .
Doesn't have to be a long advert
A simple message. Something like dementia changes people .