To Whom I May Concern® serves as an intervention for early-stage dementia-related illnesses, benefiting both the audiences who hear the stories and the people aware of cognitive changes who participate in guided storytelling within the Sharing Groups. Cast members in To Whom I May Concern® performances are individuals diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment or a dementia-related illness. This means the narrative presented to the audience reflects a realistic and fairly hopeful early-stage experience, countering the dominant and often negative narrative about dementia-related illnesses that usually focuses on the end stage.
Why Is the Narrative Important?
This dominant narrative is problematic because of its unintended impact on those who are just beginning their journey with cognitive changes. Immediately upon diagnosis, this narrative can change how the person diagnosed sees themselves and is perceived by others. Our minds often jump to the end stage, contributing to a self-fulfilling prophecy. The stigma caused by this negative narrative often changes the nature of interactions with care partners, medical practitioners, family, and friends after diagnosis. Thus, the stigma can be disabling, shaping the futures of those newly diagnosed and aware of their cognitive changes.
So, why is changing the dominant narrative so important right now? With early diagnosis being encouraged and new blood tests on the horizon, there’s still no clear pathway to care or strategy for maintaining a good quality of life for those who are newly diagnosed. Without intervention, we risk having an increasing number of individuals more debilitated by stigma than by the symptoms themselves.
An Intervention for Early-Stage Dementia-related Illnesses
To Whom I May Concern® provides an essential “life preserver” for people aware of cognitive changes who need a more positive message following a diagnosis of a dementia-related illness or Mild Cognitive Impairment. The To Whom I May Concern® Sharing Groups offer an encouraging and empowering environment that enables participants to reclaim their narrative agency. They are supported with accommodations to continue sharing their stories—something that may not be readily available in their everyday lives due to the stigma. Within the Sharing Groups, friendships and confidence grow as members learn from each other, develop coping strategies, and realize they are not alone. The opportunity to share their stories with an audience adds meaning and purpose to their lives.
At To Whom I May Concern®, we connect with people aware of cognitive changes at a critical time when they and their families need to focus on what they can do, rather than on what is being lost. It’s a social intervention and a purpose-driven intervention—two components proven to contribute to healthy aging. By shifting the narrative in the minds of those diagnosed and the people around them, we open up possibilities for what the future might hold.
Be Part of the Solution
To Whom I May Concern® is not the entire answer, but from the positive impact we’ve seen on participants and audiences, it’s certainly part of the solution. By providing a platform for people aware of cognitive changes to share their stories, we’re not just altering the narrative—we’re helping to build a future where individuals are seen, heard, and valued for who they are, beyond their diagnosis.
If you’re interested in bringing To Whom I May Concern® to your community, the way forward is through training facilitators from within that community. These trained facilitators will form Sharing Groups of people aware of cognitive changes, guide their storytelling, and co-create the script and production. The next Facilitator Training is scheduled for November 6-8, 2024. This is an opportunity to create a meaningful impact and help shift the narrative around cognitive changes in your community.
By Laura Bowley, Director of Communications & Development
