"Dementia will never take our beautiful memories away"

Early-onset dementia affects around 6.000 people in Flanders. “In young active people, the first symptoms don’t immediately make you think of dementia,” explains Hilde Lamers of Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen. “Quite often there is an incorrect diagnosis, such as stress, burnout or even depression. This happens because there is still a taboo about early-onset dementia. The disease is still far too often associated with older people. And that makes it difficult to explain to an active person of 55 with dementia that they’ll have trouble remembering and speaking, or that they’ll suffer from mood swings. Feelings of helplessness and frustration are also stronger because they are far more aware of how their faculties are deteriorating. They also still have a long future. They have the right to be part of our society. They at least deserve a full role in the community.”

Misunderstood
According to Hilde Lamers, making this a subject for discussion is an important first step. “We often hear that people with early-onset dementia and their families are misunderstood. They’re told things like, ‘You’re exaggerating…’, ‘There’s nothing wrong with you…’ or ‘Everyone forgets things now and then…’. Statements like these are all the more painful. These make the environment even more difficult because they’re fighting on two fronts: against early-onset dementia and against prejudice.” And this is what the League wants to combat. “On the one hand, we want to create a more subtle image of dementia and, on the other hand, give people an insight into what a courageous battle people with early-onset dementia are fighting every day.”

Ikbenernog (I’m still here)
That’s why Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen is launching the ‘ikbenernog’ campaign today, which allows people with early-onset dementia to speak for themselves. “‘Ikbenernog’ consists of two parts, a radio documentary and a website,” explains Hilde Lamers. “We’ve developed a new platform in collaboration with the Expertisecentrum Dementie Paradox (the Paradox Dementia Expertise Centre), on which people with dementia can leave their memories for later. So they can send little messages for their loved ones to listen to at a later date. It’s one way to deal with early-onset dementia. But also a way to send a strong message: we know how things stand, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to give up.”

Radio documentary
The website is backed up by a captivating radio documentary. Six people with early-onset dementia recorded their finest memories for their loved ones. The memory is followed by an emotional passage in which they say that their finest memories will never disappear. “Alzheimer’s will never rob me of these wonderful memories.”

The website is accessible to everyone. Anyone who wants to immortalise a message can do so via ikbenernog.be. It’s very simple, just enter your e-mail address, leave a message and decide when the message should be delivered. A message can be delivered up to ten years later. There’s more information about this initiative at www.ikbenernog.be.

Campagne: Ikbenernog

Client : Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen
Contact : Hilde Lamers, Laura Weyns
Agency : DDB Brussels

CD: Peter Ampe, Odin Saille
Creation: Kenn Van Lijsebeth
Account Team: Sylvie De Couvreur, Silvie Erzeel, Anneleen Vande Voorde

Photographer: Dieter Hautman
PR: Kenn Van Lijsebeth

Graphic designer: Wietse De Ridder
Development: Christophe Gesquière
Digital producer: Adeline Andre

Radiostudio: Raygun
Music Composer: Peter Baert
Producer & Coach: Liesbeth Demolder, Toon Jansegers
Sound Engineer: Mathias Lewis

Production Company: Landvogel
DOP: Tiele Mulier
Executive Producer: Thomas Cassiers
Producer: Yannick Verdonck
Offline edit: Tom Syryn
Online edit: Glenn Renard

Met dank aan: Expertisecentrum Paradox, VZW Het Ventiel, Liesbeth Demolder (Raygun), Thomas Cassiers (Landvogel), Annemie Pauwels (VAR)