EmpowermentPLUS Model: Youth Inspired Model Designed to End Dementia Stigma

https://lorenzoshouse.org/dismantle-dementia-stigma/

Lorenzo’s House

Chicago, Illinois

https://lorenzoshouse.org/

Young people and their families affected by younger-onset dementia (diagnosis before age 65) are empowered to shift an often isolating and stigmatizing journey into one framed by community building, reducing isolation and helping families to be seen, understood and embraced. An estimated 2000+ individuals are reached by this program each year. From a 23yr/old, “often people are unaware about our parent’s diagnosis and may make unnecessary comments – causing uncomfortable feelings and placing us in an unfair situation. At Lorenzo’s House, we grapple together and are designing our own tools and mindsets to respond, restore our own sense of family dignity, and shine a light on stigma [to] dismantle it.”

At its core, Lorenzo’s House created the EmpowermentPLUS Model, actively engaging and building capacity in young people thrust into a caregiving role early in life. Through a well-organized structure of youth Clubs (age-appropriate virtual hangouts for those age 4 to 18+), annual Youth Summit and Clubs for carepartners, individuals are educated about dementia and learn practical tools to employ for their personal context and adapt to the diagnosis. They gain strategies and strength to manage dementia stigma at home and in their community and undertake this skillset to train others using a train-the-trainer model. Last year they reached youth from 47 states and more than 16 countries. Through regular speaking engagements, social media and publications they are working to dismantle dementia stigma, locally, nationally and globally.