DEMENTIA IN SOCIETY
Living (and hiking) with dementia: a message of hope and resilience from Stefan Eriksson and Janni Ahlgren Stefan Eriksson, member of the European Working Group of People with Dementia (EWGPWD), was diagnosed with dementia at 50. He recently took a hiking trip with his daughter Janni Ahlgren (who supports him at EWGPWD meetings) and his brothers, Thomas and Anders, to climb Sweden’s tallest mountain, Kebnekaise. Janni recorded their trip on video, to share what the trip meant to them. Stefan Eriksson has young-onset Alzheimer’s dementia. His eyesight was impacted by a car accident some 30 years ago, since which he has had double-vision. This has worsened with the progression of Alzheimer’s as has his ability to see colours and contrasts, and he has previously broken both his shoulders. Alzheimer’s has also made Stefan scared of heights. Despite these setbacks, he recently took a hiking trip with his daughter Janni Ahlgren and his brothers, Thomas and Anders, to climb Kebnekaise, Sweden’s tallest mountain, with an elevation of 2,103m. Reaching the summit had long been a dream of his.
Stefan hiking on Kebnekaise
Janni, a photographer with an interest in filmmaking, logged their trip on video and edited it into a ten-minute movie, which she has since shared on her YouTube channel. The movie shows what happened along the way and reflects on the purpose of the trip, as well as what both, she and her dad Stefan, were able to take from it. With a little help…
Stefan and Janni
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In my dad’s case, this was never about reaching the summit of a mountain, it was about challenging his fears, and seeing how far he could go with a little bit of help.” Janni Ahlgren
As they approached the steeper side of Focusing on the positive the mountain, after hiking through some already difficult, rocky terrain, which was The climb started well, with just a bit of windy hard for Stefan with his eyesight prob- weather to contend with. Stefan used two lems, he began to panic. Janni helped her Nordic walking sticks to help him keep his dad quell his fear by taking his hand and balance on the path and was coping really giving him a lot of positive encouragement well, but after a while, the panic took hold and reassurance. of him again. They struggled on together, later reaching He and Janni decided to stop their climb and a long footbridge over rapids. The structure to leave Thomas and Anders to finish the rest of the bridge was metal mesh and the rush- of the climb to the summit without them, as ing water could be seen far below their feet they returned to the lodge. which was very scary for Stefan. But again, with the support and encouragement of his Stefan tripped on many rocks along the way, daughter, he made it across. A proud moment but instead of complaining, he commented for both of them! on how beautiful all the rocks were. Despite this positive mindset, he was disappointed After a long day of walking the rocky trail, not to have reached the summit and, in his they reached the mountain lodge, where they own words, to have allowed his panic to stop stayed for the night, and prepared themselves him. Janni sees things differently, though. She to climb the mountain the next day. was so proud of how far her dad had made it.
Dementia in Europe
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