Dementia Meets

We believe that it is necessary to rethink dementia. We aim an attitude of affirmation, acceptance and support that strengthens relatives and perceives people with dementia as people not as patients.

Dementia is a disease that leaves an imprint in our society. It is an increasing challenge and still a taboo. Relatives withdraw due to fear of stigmatization and those affected try to hide their concerns. Dementia Meets wants to counteract and establish a new era to deal with dementia.

Each Dementia Meet has its own typical appeal.
Though certain aspects they have in common:

Organisational

• One-day event
• Between May and September
• Urban space (city)

Content-related

• Encounters at eye level
• Light hours on a heavy topic
• Inspiring, brave and encouraging programme

Special

• All participants address each other by their first name
• Fresh and tasty catering
• Summer piazza with exhibitors

Initially the Dementia Meets movement is initiated and built by Daniel Wagner from Zurich. His father suffered from Alzheimer and lived with the diagnosis for twelve years. This is one of the reasons why Daniel is now a dementia activist, especially in the digital world. He developed the website Dementia Zurich and founded several Facebook groups in order to share experiences. Further he organized the first Dementia Meet Zurich and initiated the Dementia Manifesto of those concerned in Switzerland. Dementia Meets is a protected brand.

In 2020, Daniel transferred the responsibility of Dementia Meet to his friends Dominik Isler and Fabian Wassmer. The two co-founded the start-up LINDEN Live Learning Labs and are both confronted with dementia in their immediate environment. Thus they bring great energy and motivation to spread the idea and the spirit of Dementia Meets. Their company forms the central management of the Dementia Meets movement.

At the Dementia Meets Lab in Berne we are zealous to develop a social franchising strategy in order to strengthen the individual and initiate a social discourse at the same time. We imagine a future in which dementia no longer is a taboo in our society and aim to encourage affected persons and families to talk about their situation, their concerns and their rays of hope.

Would you like to learn more about Dementia Meets or even become an organizer in your city? Contact us for more information. We are happy to get to know you and support you with features and tools.