Letters of Love and Dementia
Letters of Love and Dementia is a project centred around the intergenerational exchange of letters between a person living with dementia and younger family or community members. The aim of the letters, which focuses on love and dementia, is to destigmatise dementia, humanise the experiences of people living with dementia and build connections between people living with dementia, their families and the broader community.
The project began in 2015, with the exchange of letters between Anne Tudor and her wife Edie Mayhew, who was living with dementia. Anne and Edie wrote each other every day for a week - and then opened them on film (here). The approach was adapted for the Festival of Love and Dementia, Perth (here), with younger people reading letters to older family members living with dementia (here). We are now exploring the project in Hepburn.
The project began in 2015, with the exchange of letters between Anne Tudor and her wife Edie Mayhew, who was living with dementia. Anne and Edie wrote each other every day for a week - and then opened them on film (here). The approach was adapted for the Festival of Love and Dementia, Perth (here), with younger people reading letters to older family members living with dementia (here). We are now exploring the project in Hepburn.
Hepburn project
Letters of Love and Dementia, Hepburn is an intergenerational project based in Hepburn, supported by Elder Rights Australia and Central Highlands Rural Health, Dementia Carers Support Group. Special thanks to Chris and Steve and Peta and Glen - and their families for participating. The process with each family has involved:
Special thanks to photographer/film maker Chris Franklin for producing the films below. We look forward to sharing the project report and film reviews with you soon.
- understanding: the family's experience of living and loving with dementia
- encapsulating: the experiences in a children's story
- sharing: the children's story with family members, particularly younger people
- learning: about the experiences of family members, through their letters
- educating: the broader community and other families through sharing the letters.
Special thanks to photographer/film maker Chris Franklin for producing the films below. We look forward to sharing the project report and film reviews with you soon.
Isla and Abbey's Letters
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Anthony's Letter
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Ella and Andrew's Letters
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The Babushka Effect
The project is being codesigned by Penny Bingham, a writer and dementia educator. Penny has developed a concept called, The Babushka Effect, reflecting on her experiences of caring for her husband who was living with dementia. Penny's film encapsulates the importance of the Letters of Love and Dementia project. Watch The Babushka Effect here.
Contact us
For more information, contact project coordinator Dr Catherine Barrett on [email protected] or 0429582237
