Welt-Alzheimertag: Wenn Erinnerungen verblassen – aber Gefühle bleiben
Mit dem Projekt „Ankerpunkte“ zeigt das Open Innovation in Science Center der Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft (LBG OIS) gemeinsam mit dem Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Grund- und Menschenrechte (LBI GMR) wie man in einem co-kreativen Prozess und künstlerischen Praktiken neue Wege eröffnen kann: gegen Scham, Isolation und für ein wertschätzendes Miteinander. Zentrales Anliegen ist die Enttabuisierung und Entstigmatisierung von Demenz sowie die Förderung inklusiver Teilhabe am gesellschaftlichen Leben.
On September 21, the world observes World Alzheimer’s Day. Forgetting is a natural process of the brain, but in the case of dementia, memories gradually disappear. Often, recent events are lost first, while emotional experiences or childhood memories can remain anchored for a long time. Around 60 to 70 percent of people with dementia suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
The LBG project “Anchor Points” now explores how shame and social withdrawal in dementia can be addressed and overcome. The project runs from 2025 to 2027.
„With ‘Anchor Points,’ we want to create spaces where people with and without dementia can meet on equal footing. Through artistic approaches and co-creative processes, we help break taboos, reduce prejudice, and foster a culture of participation and openness,“ explains Andrea Schmidt, Senior Expert at the LBG OIS Center.
New Perspectives on Dementia in the Waldviertel
Since the beginning of the year, Anchor Points has been working at the LBG OIS Center in close collaboration with the LBI GMR. Through a comprehensive literature review and twelve expert interviews, key challenges were identified.
It became clear that shame and resulting isolation are major burdens for both affected individuals and their families. The Anchor Points project addresses this by creating inclusive spaces through co-creative, artistic practices, enabling perspective shifts and making new forms of remembering and forgetting a shared experience.
A major milestone is the “Ideation” phase, taking place during a creative workshop in autumn 2025 in the northern Waldviertel. Together with people affected, family members, and local experts, innovative approaches will be developed and then tested and refined on-site from spring to autumn 2026. The goal is to create a sustainable program of artistic and creative approaches to dementia that is firmly rooted in the Waldviertel Nord region.
Art as a Bridge: Innovative Approaches for Rural Dementia Care
Rural regions face the challenge of supporting an aging population, and dementia in particular requires creative solutions. Under the concept of “Rural Innovation,” Anchor Points is the first LBG OIS project to use art as a key tool, opening new pathways for people with dementia and their families.
„Art programs have been shown to positively impact people with dementia: they encourage communication, evoke memories, and create valuable moments of connection. With ‘Anchor Points,’ we demonstrate that such programs can succeed not only in urban areas but also in rural regions – adapted to local conditions and supported by a strong community,“ Schmidt adds.
The northern Waldviertel serves as the first model region where new forms of participation are being tested with local communities. The experiences gained will later be transferred to other regions. Interested individuals are invited to actively participate and can contact the project team directly.
