Stigma

Stigma is a collective phenomenon manifested, for example, in the fear and shame that family caregivers may feel about the negative social connotation of the disease, which in many cases leads to “hiding” symptoms of dementia, as well as seeking services  for relevant health conditions.

Stigma is also expressed when elderly people with dementia and their support networks are aware of the stigma directed at the disease. This, in turn, is associated with decreased self-esteem, self-efficacy and quality of life, increased anxiety and depressive symptoms, social exclusion and disability.