In July and August, Toyama Co-op held a series of seminars titled "The Dementia World Travel Guide" at two venues, attracting a total of 167 participants.
The interactive seminars were designed to help participants gain a deeper understanding of how people living with dementia experience the world and the challenges they may encounter in their daily lives. Through dialogue and group discussions, participants explored these experiences from the perspective of people living with dementia.
The seminars were led by TERAI Rieko, Associate Professor at Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University.

Seminar Instructor TERAI Rieko

The seminar began with a group activity in which participants introduced themselves and shared their reasons for attending, as well as their thoughts and expectations.
Participants gave a variety of reasons, including: "I decided to attend because a family member has begun showing mild symptoms of dementia, and I wanted to learn more about the condition," and "I want to understand how we are perceived by a family member living with dementia and better appreciate their feelings and perspective."

Participants introducing themselves

In the lecture that followed, participants learned about memory impairment caused by dementia, as well as difficulties with spatial awareness, visual perception, and attention.
Examples were presented in an easy-to-understand way, such as how a person may no longer recognize that clothes are inside a closet once the doors are closed, or how, at a checkout counter, surrounding noises and several people speaking to them one after another can disrupt their concentration and cause confusion.

During the lecture, participants took part in a group activity based on a case presented in a short video. The case involved a man who "woke up at 5:00 a.m., went out, became lost, and was brought home by the police. His bag was found filled with grass, branches, and flowers."
Using cards describing various "difficulties" experienced by people living with dementia as clues, participants exchanged views, asking questions such as, "Why would he behave this way?" and "It seems like any of these could apply." They then tried to infer the reasons behind the man's behaviour through a process of abductive reasoning.
Through the exercise, participants came to understand that although the behaviour described in the case might initially appear puzzling to others, it may make sense from the perspective of the person living with dementia. Changes in their sense of time and difficulties retaining memories can shape their perception of events, creating a coherent story from their own point of view that ultimately explains their behaviour.

Cards describing the "difficulties" experienced by people with dementia
Teaching material source: issue+design

At the end of the seminar, participants learned the "Five Principles for Living with Dementia," which offer guidance on how to live positively alongside people with dementia.

1. Understand dementia correctly from the perspective of the person living with it.
2. Embrace and enjoy life positively while living with dementia.
3. Build a network of people you can rely on.
4. Value dialogue with the person living with dementia. (Adopt a "Yes, and" approach--first accepting what the person says rather than denying it--and try to understand the reasons behind their words and actions.)
5. Create a supportive living environment. (Design an environment that helps reduce misunderstanding and confusion.)

Terai emphasized the importance of setting aside prejudices and preconceived notions about dementia and making an effort to understand the circumstances and experiences behind the words and actions of people living with dementia. Participants shared the following comments:

• "The seminar explained the world of dementia in a very easy-to-understand way. I realized how important it is to see things from the perspective of people living with dementia."
• "I am glad I was able to gain some insight into the world experienced by people living with dementia. I would like to keep the Five Principles for interacting with people with dementia in mind."
• "The idea of encouraging what a person can do and supporting them with what they cannot do made me reflect on my own everyday interactions. I would like to make a conscious effort to respond with greater kindness and understanding."
• "I believe that listening, observing, and reasoning are essential to building good relationships--and not only with people living with dementia."

Through the seminar, participants learned that increasing the number of people who have a proper understanding of "the world experienced by people living with dementia" and "how they navigate life within that world" can help create a society where everyone can continue to live with confidence and peace of mind, even if they themselves or someone close to them develops dementia.