Via BBC – Radio 4 The Listening Project – Life comes first: Agnes and Nancy
Best friends Agnes and Nancy confront their dementia head-on. “Everybody dies. It’s no big deal,” says Nancy, and that’s why Agnes describes her pal as “The Wise Woman of Dementia”. They met a few years ago through the Scottish Dementia Working Group, a campaign group run by people with dementia. They’re seeking to improve services for and attitudes towards the condition.
- Listen now (03:26 minutes)
- Read more about ‘Life comes first: Agnes and Nancy’
Just to let you know that your very own copy of the Film ‘Agnes and Nancy’ can be obtained from Dr Ruth Bartlett. If you would like a copy of the resource please email R.L.Bartlett@soton.ac.uk. your postal address. Or telephone 02380 597896.
The film is part of the No Limits| Reimagining Life with Dementia © Educational Resource created by a group of people living with dementia. The film received it’s European premiere at the Alzheimer’s Europe conference in Vienna. Agnes and Nancy attended this event and helped to convene the inaugural proceedings of the European Dementia Working Group for People with Dementia.
The No Limits| Reimagining Life with Dementia © Educational Resource was launched at the University of Southampton in September 2012.
The No Limits| Reimagining Life with Dementia © Educational Resource is for any individual or group with an interest in and/or whose role it is to educate others about people with dementia. It aims to broaden thinking and understanding about the diverse interests, needs, and rights of people with dementia, including younger people.
The Resource covers the following topics:
•Active citizenship, diversity, and well being
•Seeing dementia as a journey
•Nurturing friendships and peer support between people with dementia
•End of life and advance planning
•Our connections with place and nature
A unique feature of this Educational Resource is that it uses art and visual imagery to engage people in these topics. It contains:
•a short documentary film called Agnes & Nancy made by Anne Milne
•a set of postcards depicting ‘protest banners’ designed by installation artist Shaeron- Caton Rose and based on original work created by people with dementia
•a series of thought-provoking questions to facilitate discussion about the film and postcards.
The Resource is free, but in return, we ask that you make a Public Promise to use the Resource to educate others – details are in the Resource Pack.
If you would like a copy of the resource please email R.L.Bartlett@soton.ac.uk. your postal address. Or telephone 02380 597896.
Hi Larry,
Thanks for sharing details of the DVD ‘Agnes and Nancy’, produced by Dr Bartlett and colleagues at the University of Southampton. I found the short audio clip which aired on the BBC fascinating and look forward to finding out more.
All the best
Rowan
Just another note to tell you all that you will be able to read a very comprehensive report from Agnes Houston about taking the film ‘Agnes and Nancy’ to Vienna and showing it at the Alzheimer’s Europe conference. Agnes and Nancy have been leading the dementia activism effort to establish an umbrella organisation across Europe for user-led and peer-support campaign groups. The premiers of this film in Vienna coincided with inaugural proceedings to set up a European Dementia Working Group for People with Dementia. Here is the link to her report on the Dementia Voice website https://www.adementiavoice.com/?p=2335.
Guideposts Trust has just funded a post here in the South East to develop a dementia empowerment group for anyone who has a diagnosis. If you would like to help get this project going then please contact me in the first instance. My ambition is that there will be delegates representing South East England also participating at the following AGM of the European Dementia Working Group.
Hi Larry,
Thanks for sharing this update on the work that Agnes and Nancy have been leading. I hope that people interested in the South East dementia empowerment group get in touch.
All the best
Rowan