Liza Futerman

'Yes! There is a way to live well and have fun with Dementia! Dementia is NOT the end!'

'I believe that it is only when we are inspired and empowered that we can care and care better for ourselves and for those who need our caring.'

I'm a CIHR-funded PhD candidate at the Centre for Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto and a social activist for dementia care culture change. I research the psychosocial aspects of dementia and the goal of my cross-disciplinary research is to contribute to the international efforts of preventing isolation and creating a sense of community and self-worth for individuals living with dementia, their families and their professional supporters. As an international scholar and a long-distance carer to my mother, I value the importance of inter-professional community building to ensure a sense of belonging and accountability among my networks. I create lasting, meaningful relationships that help me and those around me to care better for what we do and the ways we impact those around us.

Arts for Dementia is the practical component of my CIHR-funded research and it is a curated platform of arts based information for care partners looking for positive and fun activities to stay connected to their loved ones who are affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, at home and in the local community. The project was developed at DementiaHack’15 and it encourages Culture Shift advocacy.

Our inspiration is to promote empathy within the global society. We are looking for champions to bring arts based projects into local communities, disseminate knowledge about engaging activities and meaningful lifestyles with dementia.

You can click the button above to visit my website. If you’d like to get in touch and collaborate, feel free to say hello through any of the social links below.