Aim of the Project
Dementia in Cultural Mediation (DCUM) is a transnational project motivated by the increasing number of people suffering from dementia in Europe. The project is based on the tremendous potential in using culture and cultural activities as a new approach to creating social inclusion for people with dementia in local communities. Cultural activities create a framework for new communities of literature, art, creativity and culture, increasing the joy of life and the perception of social inclusion for people with dementia.
Project Partners
The project is a partnership of 5 organizations from 4 different European countries:
- Odense Libraries and Citizens Service, Denmark. (lead partner)
- Expertisecentrum Dementie Vlaanderen, Belgium
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
- Healthy Ageing Network Northern Netherlands, The Netherlands
- Fundacion Instituto Gerontologico Matia-Ingema, Spain.
The strategic partnership brings the project a wide range of professional backgrounds and organizational forms, all with the same mission of contributing to a healthier and happier life for people with dementia.
Project Period
The project started in September 2019 and runs until August 2022.
Project Goal
To reach the overall purpose, the DCUM project increases the competencies of Cultural Mediators working in cultural institutions such as libraries, museums and civil society organizations through the exchange of tools and learning of new ways to practice cultural mediation aimed at people with dementia. The project also develops an open source and easily accessible toolkit, not only for the participating partners but for all organizations and Cultural Mediators who are interested in inspiration and practical methods for cultural mediation aimed at people living with dementia.
A Digital Toolkit for Cultural Mediators
What you find on this website is the core product of the Dementia in Cultural Mediation project. The project partners have developed an open-source digital toolkit containing methods, tools and training material for cultural mediation aimed at people living with dementia. Cultural Mediators have exchanged practical methods and tools across national borders during three tool exchanges within the project timeline. During the project period, the tools have been continuously collected into this final toolkit. The toolkit consists of presentational and instructional videos, pictures, and written guides to support the use of each method. In addition, the toolkit is supported by specially developed training material based on a didactic approach. The purpose of the training material is to keep and advice the Cultural Mediators in planning and completing the cultural activities aimed primarily at people with dementia.
Recommendations for future initiatives
In a conclusion the project has developed a recommendation report to contribute to future European efforts in the fields of dementia and culture. The recommendations are based on the project experiences and results, as well as the outcomes from the dialogues and meetings during the project period. The total length Recommendation report and a report summary can be found in this toolkit under "Recommendations".
A European Reference Group
In addition to the five partner organizations, the project consortium also consisted of a European Reference Group constellated of highly recognized experts in the fields of dementia and culture, representatives of interest groups and representatives of the end-user group, eg. professors, informal caregivers, activity coordinators and dementia advisors etc.
Their tasks were to qualify project deliveries, discuss topics related to the project's aim, deliver recommendations, and act as ambassadors of the project.
Funding
The project is subsidised with support from the European Commission. This content only commits authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for using the information contained herein.
Newsletters
During the project we produced six newsletters. Feel free to download these below.
Contact Information
Project Manager (DK): Kamilla Geisler, Odense Libraries
