On a sunny August morning, a group of kids took a few hours out of day camp to meet with older adults for a day of music and conversation. This intergenerational event, held at Yesler Community Center in Seattle, was the culmination of Our Time Has Come, an 8-week workshop offered by the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center that empowers people living with memory loss and their care partners to become social activists in raising awareness about memory loss and dementia in the wider community.
“We believe that persons living with memory loss are the experts on what it means to have a dementia-friendly community, and can be active participants in making that happen,” says Marigrace Becker, MBWC’s Program Manager of Community Education and Impact, who created and leads the workshop.
This pioneering group of Our Time Has Come decided to work with the younger generation, helping them understand more about dementia but also have fun together as a way to break down barriers. In the workshop, they thought about what they wanted to convey to the children and how to do it. Over the weeks, the participants settled on the message that people with memory loss, amid cognitive difficulties, have different things to offer, can get out and have fun, pursue new hobbies, and enjoy time with friends and family.
“Our hope is that kids can recognize memory loss in their grandparents and others,” says Philip Culbertson, who lives with symptoms of Alzheimer disease, “and know how to approach those people in constructive ways throughout their life.” During the group discussion with the kids at Yesler, he shared that he can no longer play his really fast musical pieces on the piano but really enjoys playing slower songs with his adult children and grandchildren.
The plan came off without a hitch. After Mary Firebaugh gave her prepared introductory remarks about memory loss, the kids gathered around Paula Schwimmer, a care partner, and her husband Rafe, for a reading of a children’s book about dementia. The workshop group had chosen between six books, considering what images and ideas about dementia would be meaningful, not overwhelming or confusing, to children. For example, they steered away from language such as “scary disease” and pictures of neurons, and leaned more towards real-life examples such as finding clothing in the refrigerator. After much discussion, they ended up voting on Barbara Schnurbush’s Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants: A Story About Alzheimer’s Disease for Young Children. After the reading, the whole group discussed particular parts of the story that resonated with the kids, such as the need to take some quiet time alone in a stressful situation at home.

Dementia-friendly folk dance provided the chance for the kids to share in an activity accessible to people across the spectrum of age and physical ability. In a seated circle dance, led by Susan Wickett-Ford of Silver Kite Community Arts, everyone held onto a stretchy band of rainbow-colored fabric, which they moved up and down, side to side, to the classic Breton folk dance song An Dro Retourné / Chañj Tu. They had to work together and rely on each other to maintain the dance. In the many other dances of the day, Our Time Has Come participants were able to show, instead of tell, the possibility for joy and connection, regardless of age or cognitive limitations.

Our Time Has Come has its roots in Seattle’s dementia-friendly community. It’s named for a song written in 2014 by a group of people at the Gathering Place at Greenwood Senior Center, an early-stage memory loss enrichment program, during a music workshop with songwriter Linda Waterfall. In her earlier work with the Gathering Place, Becker heard the group express their desire to make change in the community, and facilitated their vision to create an “anti-stigma flyer” which was presented on NPR and beyond. She has dreamed ever since of facilitating more opportunities for empowerment and advocacy.
At the UW MBWC, she got the chance. Support from Jefferson Terrace of Seattle Housing Authority, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Yesler Community Center, the Associated Recreation Council, and Silver Kite Community Arts helped secure the space, schedule, and personnel for the workshop and final project. “Our Time Has Come really became a magnet that draws together intriguing partnerships,” says Becker.
In reflections on the project, each participant expressed feelings of accomplishment, pride, and pleasure. “It was fun to see the kids open up to the experience of being with older people, which there can be some fear around,” says Schwimmer. There was also a sense of astonishment. “We are sort of in awe of how far we’ve traveled since the first day,” says Firebaugh. “I was a little skeptical of the goal at first. We really did it.”
The UW MBWC Community Education and Impact program plans to offer Our Time Has Come on a regular basis, while training other facilitators to offer the workshop. “Ultimately, I want to see more and more of these workshops happening all around the world, simultaneously,” says Becker. “But I’m happy to start here in our state. The time has come to recognize that people living with memory loss can lead the way in building communities that are welcoming, understanding and accessible to all.”
This story was originally published by UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center. Click here to learn more the Center’s Community Events and Programs.
I am an AGNG 320 student at the Erickson School of Aging. The article is beautify written. The idea of a workshop helps prepare kids in dealing with and understanding what dementia is all about. I think that both the grandkids and adults will benefits from this these types of workshops as, it helps them overcome the mix of emotions and uncertainty they may have on how to handle a loved one suffering from dementia. The workshop is also great for people with dementia. Studies proves that social activities helps people with dementia over come stresses and change their mood.( Haber,2003) The idea of a workshop will help patients and their families in reducing any stresses or regrets that maybe present; to enjoy one-another. My own situation is of my grandmother who suffered from dementia. Dealing with the situation was extremely difficult as she remembered no-one. and she kept asking the same question over-and-over. We spent a lot time with her doing the things she originally loved like: cooking, baking and looking at photos. By doing this, we sensed her love for us – even though we knew she couldn’t remember. My current studies concerning dementia resonates as it something serious but, can be worked with.
Haber,D.(2003). Health Promotion and Aging: Practical Applications for health Professionals( 6th ed). springer Publishing Company.
I am an aging 200 student at the Erickson school of aging and. I do agree with this article as creating workshops involving people with dementia will bring awareness to the younger generation and give them a better understanding of what their grandparents or relatives are going through. Dementia can create a challenging situation for families especially for kids who have no knowledge of certain behaviors. Bringing awareness to the younger generation may allow kids to know that certain behaviors from their relatives with dementia are not towards them but rather a part of the dementia. I vividly remember how my grandfather who also had dementia will call me names and at times would ask me to leave because he couldn’t recognize me and then at other times will just smile, hold my hand and stare at me. I would just cry asking my parents why my grandfather hated me, not understanding that his behavior was part of the disease he was suffering from. Had I been aware of the conditions at a younger age, I would have embraced it and not feel the pain and anger I had within me.
I strongly believe more workshops involving people with dementia will cause people to put themselves in the position of their relatives with dementia and help improve communication, which may possibly decrease their dementia behavior
What a heartwarming read! It is so important that our younger generations have the opportunity to be introduced to older adults. Not only for the enrichment of their lives, but as an opportunity for them to gain a better understanding of aging and even in hopes the experience leads to a future occupational pursuit. This story is very encouraging, thank you!