This ambitious project is the culmination of work carried out in 2012 by professionals from Monaco’s gerontological institutions, in collaboration with patients and their families.
The initiative sought to tap into the autobiographical and emotional memories of the patients. These special encounters made it possible to shift the focus away from the illness and instead center on the life story and personal experiences of each individual.
Adopting an individualized approach, each professional drew upon their clinical expertise to foster the conditions necessary for an empathetic relationship. This meant approaching the other person without preconceptions, respecting their silences and emotions, and seizing every opportunity to deepen the connection.
Throughout the project, interdisciplinary meetings among professionals allowed for an analysis of practices and fostered a genuine exchange of skills.
The outcome of this work was that each person living with the illness created their own photograph, centered on a theme that is meaningful and significant to them.
This photography exhibition, titled “IMPRINTS OF LIFE” (“EMPREINTES DE VIE”), served as a wonderful opportunity to highlight the creative and artistic abilities of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, thereby restoring their rightful, valued place within the community.