Doggies for Dementia-Frequently Asked Questions Continued
Greetings our loyal Doggies for Dementia Foundation Blog Readers! I am Carmen Davailus and founder of Doggies for Dementia Foundation. I am a frequent guest on podcasts, and I LOVE talking about Doggies for Dementia! There are some questions I hear often and thought I would devote a blog to this. You might be surprised!
Our Inspiration, Behind the Scenes Info You Might Not Know, How to Support and What Makes Us Bark!
How can our readers best support you?
Share our content and let others know we are here. Many people are silently living with dementia, and don’t tell their friends or families because of the stigma. They need support-education, referrals and the photo sessions. It’s a tough journey. Our mission is
Anything else you’d like to add?
We are firmly based in our VALUES and MISSION. We recite them before every Executive Board Meeting and keep them in our hearts and minds in everything we do. Values.Mission: https://doggiesfordementia.org/values/
Our Vision is big-to create a more loving and kind world for those with dementia and we can’t do it alone. We don’t want to do it alone. This is what we need:
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Those committed to sharing and commenting on our social media posts, blogs and YouTube channel.
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Donations and opportunities to partner with other businesses for fundraisers and to get the word out. DONATE HERE
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More wonderful opportunities like this one with Toast. Thank you so much!
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People who want to learn photography and are interested in being a part of our group. This is a big next step for us as we expand.
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Most importantly, families who want to create a legacy and be highlighted by Doggies for Dementia Foundation.
What is the benefit of including dogs in the photos? There are several benefits!
- 1. When we add dogs to the photos, people seem to forget I’m even taking photos. It becomes a beautiful, low stress, fun time for families, which is not common for families impacted by dementia. Because I am very familiar with dementia, there is no need to worry about their loved one either.
- 2. Certainly dogs do not judge either. I have a friend who has early onset dementia, and he told me that when there’s a dog to play with and love the feeling of needing to be as “perfect” as possible and accommodate others is gone and they just get to be themselves. This is exactly what it feels like, and I believe it’s a wonderful gift for all of us.
- 3. When dogs are added we get the beautiful, candid and heartfelt photos we all love because they look like us, and we feel like our real selves are in the photos. Some say that I captured their essence.
- 4. Dogs are unpredictable and they can make us laugh. Humor, a basic spiritual need is also an equalizer. It doesn’t matter what else is going on, if we can laugh we are unified. We’re in it together and we are all just people laughing and feeling connected. This is something really missed during the pandemic.
What inspired you to start Doggies For Dementia?
Those impacted by dementia- those with the dementia, the families and loved ones who support them, and professional care providers inspired me. After following and photographing 13 families impacted by dementia for a few years, I wrote a book called, “Just See Me-Sacred Stories from the Other Side of Dementia.” I began to understand the how and why families felt so isolated, alone and disconnected from others. I recognized the need to raise awareness. I wasn’t quite sure until I saw the difference in impact of the images which included dogs and those with only the person with dementia. Additionally, the images were more candid and joyful because dogs bring that with them. Having a dog there is kind of the “great equalizer.” My next thought was how to incorporate dogs into photo sessions and still share the families’ stories. This is how it began and continues to grow.
Carmen is a family nurse practitioner with over 40 years experience as a nurse. She understood families needed more support and the impact of loneliness and isolation for many was huge. She considers Doggies for Dementia a calling and a way to help those impacted share their story, teach the world about dementia, reduce fear and stigma and provide a beautiful experience for families. Those photographed and interviews become “Stars of the Day” with pampering and compassion and then together we share out their stories. Families love how their experiences can help others.
“Doggies bring joy and it doesn’t take long before people even know I’m photographing them. It’s a beautiful experience for all involved.” Carmen Davailus
Carmen is a retired nurse practitioner, documentary and portrait photographer, award winning author and professional speaker. She is CEO of Carmen’s Legacy Productions, President of Doggies for Dementia and is opening an online art gallery of landscape and nature photography this summer.
Nobody can do this alone! We have a wonderful Executive Growth Team (Board) who pour their time, energy and love into our projects. Learn More Here