The locked doors of dementia

A Swedish photographer brings dementia-afflicted elders back into the light

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From the series, 'Into Oblivion.'
(Image credit: (Maja Daniels)Behind the locked door was the hospital's "protected unit" — a confined ward for residents with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Daniels would end up spending three years in an)

(Image credit: (Maja Daniels))

(Image credit: (Maja Daniels)Daniels, who lives in London, has a master's degree in sociology, and her academic pursuits helped frame her time at the ward and the resulting project, Into Oblivion.Globally,)

(Image credit: (Maja Daniels))

(Image credit: (Maja Daniels)The locked door that first drew her attention turned out to be a symbolic visual.It's common for Alzheimer's patients to have a strong urge to go home. "This is where the consta)

(Image credit: (Maja Daniels))

(Image credit: (Maja Daniels)When Daniels completed her project in 2010 she conducted an open discussion around her work with the hospital's staff as well as family members. "The photographs allowed me to s)

(Image credit: (Maja Daniels))

(Image credit: (Maja Daniels)**To see more of Maja Daniels' photography, check out her website or follow her on Instagram.**)

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.