(ANTI)STIGMA OSOBA S DEMENCIJOM

(ANTI)STIGMA OF PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA ABSTRACT Dementia, as a progressive illness, represents health, familial, as well as a social risk. The symptoms are complex, and they manifest themselves on both the cognitive and the behavioral level. Therefore, the ill person cannot take care of themselves and the help of another person to meet their daily needs is required. A stigma called a „multidimensional concept“ is often connected with this illness, which carries with it the realization that the individual is different in some characteristics and as such deviates from socially acceptable norms. This paper provides an overview of stigma theories, describes the process of stigmatization and stigma management, as well as risk factors that contribute to the creation and maintenance of stigma towards people with dementia in society. Numerous stigma reduction programs are presented internationally with the aim of making people with dementia visible and valued in the same way as other members of the community. Key words: dementia; stigma; stigma reduction