L‘Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and mainly affects women. To spread dedicated initiatives to knowledge about the disease, in 1994 theWorld Health Organization (WHO) e Alzheimer’s disease international (ADI) they established the World Day which is celebrated on September 21st.
The disease in Italy and in the world
Like all forms of dementia it involves a progressive decline of cognitive functions, starting with memory and occurs more frequently after the age of 65. According to the WHO, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias represent the 7th cause of death in the world. In Italy, according to estimates by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), approximately 1,100,000 people suffer from dementia, of which 50-60% are Alzheimer’s patients. A total of around 600 thousand people with 70 thousand new cases every year.
Alzheimer’s: an important step
«World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21st falls in an important yearbecause the disease has finally entered the political agenda with the birth ofparliamentary intergroup “Neurosciences and Alzheimer’s”. It is a fundamental starting point for our country, but the objective now must be to get to grips with it reorganization of the care network. This is a necessary condition for the patients of today and those of tomorrow”, he underlines Patrizia SpadinPresident of AIMA – Italian Alzheimer’s Disease Association.
World Day: streaming meetings and toll-free number
Precisely on the occasion of World Day, AIMA launches an important initiative: for 12 hoursfrom 8am to 8pm, a network of 10 psychologists will offer free interviews streaming to families of patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative dementias. The meetings will last 45 minutes. During the day of the 21st, the AIMA Alzheimer’s Green Line, which will be strengthened for the occasion, and which since 1997 has responded to 10 thousand phone calls every year for an average of 600 hours of conversation. The service is free and is carried out by qualified operators who can provide psychological support for family members of patients, medical informationlegal clarifications and advice for daily care, ensuring the complete anonymity. Just call the number 800 679 679.
Alzheimer’s: a place that welcomes patients
Thanks to a solidarity network made up of companies, associations, entrepreneurs and citizens who participated in crowdfunding, Elena Sodano, “care entrepreneur”, gave life to HomeCountrya structure dedicated to people suffering from Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative dementias. To Cicada, in the province of Catanzaroin a space of 800 square meters, was recreated a small village, where house numbers are hand-painted, as are the flower-lined avenues and glimpses of the sea. The rooms are furnished with patients’ personal objects, to keep the memories alive. Guests spend the day in the care of the team of psychologists, animators, educators and OSS, with times based on their needs and habits. They pass moments of leisure at L’Antico Bar Italia, they send letters to their loved ones from the post office. The Ettore Scola cinema then broadcasts films of the best moments of their existence and in the trattoria Totò and Peppino can taste genuine flavours. A decidedly different approach to the disease.
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