A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT TO OVERTURN PREJUDICES ON ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN NURSING HOMES USING ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY

It is widely known that Alzheimer’s disease is burdened with strong prejudices with negative connotations. This may contribute to increase patient’s isolation and marginalization, and to render Nursing Homes places of confinement and seclusion. Residents with dementia have trouble in relating with the outside world and in expressing themselves about their own disease, due to their cognitive decline, but also because of marginalization. We used artistic photography as an accessible and effective tool to bring down barriers and encourage residents’ communication. Artistic photography is the most immediate and accessible form of art for all people. The aim of our social experiment was to help …