Day Care Center for Patients with Dementia. Athens Association of Alzheimer s Disease and Related Disorders

Transcription

1 Day Care Center for Patients with Dementia Athens Association of Alzheimer s Disease and Related Disorders

2 What about A.D. in Greece? people are suffering from A.D. in Greece.. This number is expected to increase over the next years due to the population ageing. Conscequently, there is an urgent need for services which meet the increasing demands of both patients and their carers.

3 DEMENTIA IN GREECE Dementia survey 2005 Families actively involved in the care of patients. Common belief that responsibility of care should be evenly shared between family and state. Since 2005 full reimbursement for anti-dementia drugs

4 DEMENTIA IN GREECE - CARE 89% of patients care of at home Principal caregivers spouse (32%) children (50%) Living-in assistance in 32% of cases (usually women from Balkan and Eastern Europe)

5 DEMENTIA IN GREECE - SERVICES Problematic public primary care network Hospitalization a major problem halfway facilities Much to be desired: help at home long stay institutions

6 DEMENTIA IN GREECE - SERVICES 15 Memory Clinics organized from the Neurology Department of General Hospitals. 3 Day Care Centers in the NHS 2 Hospices

7 ALZHEIMER S ASSOCIATIONS 21 active AAs all over Greece education and support for families AAs provide : non pharmacological intervention AAs run 6 Day Care Centers for patients seminars for health professionals

8 Day Care Center Since February 2007 a new Day Center for patients suffering from dementia and their families has opened in Athens. The project was realized under the 3rd Community Support Framework with the responsibility of the Athens Association of Alzheimer s s Disease and Related Disorders. It is centrally located and aims at the energetic support of demented patients living in the community, and their families.

9 What are our objectives? 1. Training, help and support of patients suffering from Dementia 2. Education and support of carers 3. Advocacy of patients and carers rights and needs 4. Increase of public awareness 5. Scientific research on Dementia

10 What are our activities? (1) 1. Memory clinic Neurological examination Neuropsychological assessment Social research Functional evaluation

11 What are our activities? (2) 2. Daily services to the patients Cognitive training rehabilitation Reminiscence sessions Speech therapy Language groups Art therapy sessions Psychotherapy Physical exercise

12 What are our activities? (3) 3. Daily services to the carers Information Training (open group, 6 weeks program) Counselling (individual or/and in group) Psychological support (individual( or/and in group) «Help at home» programs

13 What are our activities? (4) 4. Services to the community Promotion of the latest results of scientific research on dementia Education of healthcare professionals Lectures about dementia and cognitive impairement Screening and pilot programs in the community Publication of newsletters, fact sheets and booklets Social events

14 First Results - Patients The first results are very encouraging as most of the patients present improvement in attention and concentration abilities. Social and interpersonal skills have also been improved, they seem to be taking more initiatives and their mood has been positevely affected. The intervention s benefits seem to be generalised in their family environnement as well.

15 First Results - Carers - The program offers a chance for the carers to be separated from their patients without feeling guilty or anxious - The intervention s s benefits are generalised in the family environnement improving the whole family s s quality of life - The individual or/and group sessions for the carers offer information, advices and practical help, as well as psychological support adjusted to each patient s/ s/carer s needs - A carers network is created