You have a powerful story to share!
Enter for your chance to receive a $30 gift card!
The International Association for Indigenous Aging ( IA²) is putting together a library of stories including the perspectives of American Indian and Alaska Native elders and their caregivers about memory loss, related dementias, caregiving or the various taboos and misconceptions that surround memory loss and dementia in native communities. Participants with qualifying stories will receive a gift card of $30. Share your story and inspire others today!
Submit your story, related photo or video, and email address below, and an IA² team member will follow up.
Award and Frequency:
- Selected individuals will choose a $30 gift card to Walmart or Amazon.
- This award will be given out on a completion and approval basis.
- Awards will be given until the submission date closes and funding availability is depleted.
Eligibility:
- The topic must be stories or perspectives related to dementia, memory loss, caregiving experiences, or dementia-related (misconceptions) taboos within your community.
- The story must be about your lived experience in the American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian community.
- Submission must include either a narrative or a video
- 1) a minimum of 800 words and a photo
- 2) if you decide to submit a video, an IA² team member will follow up with a written version.
- 3) if you would like an IA² team member to follow up with you to share your story and approve a write up please submit your name and contact information for follow-up.
- Pieces must be original, unpublished work.
- Each participant may only enter once.
- Not a commercial promotion.
Criteria Selection:
A panel of individuals from the IA² team will review submissions for eligibility requirements. Submissions that qualify will receive the corresponding gift card amount.
Submission Use:
IA² will feature selected submissions in their Indigenous Perspectives campaign – including but not limited to the organization’s social media pages (such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn) or its website, e-newsletter, or other future media purposes.
If you’re not sure where to begin, please share with us your name and your tribal affiliation and share a story or perspective about one or some of the following questions. (reminder – all submissions must be a 800 word minimum). If you would like to remain anonymous within your story or just want to share a name or nickname, that is perfectly okay – we just will need your name to contact you in order to send your gift card. Here are some questions to consider in telling your story:
- Share experiences or a story about your loved one(s) (e.g., grandparents, aunts, uncles, family members, neighbors, or friends) who you care for that have memory troubles or dementia.
- What are spiritual values that you or your community have regarding aging or dementia?
- What are religious values that you or your community have regarding aging or dementia?
- What does a typical day look like for you as a person with dementia or as a caregiver?
- What are some challenges you face having dementia?
- What are some of the challenges you face being a caregiver?
- What are some of the best parts of being a caregiver?
- What are some ways (hobbies, activities, community events, etc.) that your family member lives their best life living with dementia?
- What advice would you give your younger self before being diagnosed with dementia?
- What advice would you give your younger self before becoming a caregiver?
- Do you or a loved one live with dementia? How long ago did you/they get diagnosed? How did you feel about the diagnosis?
- In your culture, who takes the responsibility of caring for those with dementia?
- What kinds of personality changes have become apparent?
- What kind of services are available in your native community for memory loss?
- What do you say when someone asks about how your loved one is doing?
- What is the hardest thing about having dementia?
- What do you wish people understood more about living with dementia?
