12243465_504275723083838_8974854869254307506_nOur member Diaconia Valdese held an international conference on Alzheimer on 13 November in Turin (Italy). During the event, participants from across Europe had the chance to share best practices and know–how on the creation of dementia-friendly communities in their own countries. Please find below the report of the conference by Victoria Munsey, member of CSD/Diaconia Valdese and Eurodiaconia Board Member.

“An international conference on Alzheimer’s disease organized by the Diaconia Valdese was held on November 13 in an auditorium provided by the Region of Piedmont. The theme of the conference focused on the creation of Dementia Friendly Communities, a topic explored by the keynote speaker, Professor Marco Trabucchi.  Next, three speakers from the Rifugio Re Carlo Alberto, an elder care facility of the Diaconia Valdese outside of Turin, explained the development of their award winning project, Ambassadors for Alzheimer’s.  Like some of the other organizations recognized at the EFID Awards in Dublin last year and invited to participate in this month’s conference in Turin, the Diaconia Valdese recognizes the importance of informing people at a local and regional about the realities of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and of dispelling some myths and misconceptions about those conditions.  One new project with these aims was the creation of a book called Ambassadors for Alzheimer’s in collaboration with students from a local arts high school in Pinerolo.  A project created by Alzheimer’s Scotland, “Dementia is Everybody’s Business”, had a similar aim of raising awareness within local communities of the realities of this condition and went a step further.  Their employees and volunteers spent hours contacting local café and shop owners, patiently explaining to them how to make their businesses friendly to persons with dementia.  As their video showed, small changes in signage and training for shop staff paid off in far better experiences for the customers with dementia… and more loyal customers for the businesses!

”Projects presented by operators from Belgium and Holland showed how a little imagination and some common sense changes of approach by operators can greatly improve the quality of life of people with dementia.  The key is focusing on what dementia sufferers are able to do instead of on what they can no longer do.  Giving them a chance to choose how to invest the talents and skills they still have was shown to have raised self-esteem and kept skills active.

”An English project called “Coming Together”, presented by a man with a dementia diagnosis, Chris Armitage and a social worker, Mark Perry, offered yet further food for thought.  Chris described his pleasure and satisfaction at being able to work counseling and supporting others diagnosed with the condition and encourages them to continue to use their skills and capacities.

”Asked about her evaluation of the Conference, the President of the Committee of the Rifugio Re Carlo Alberto, Monica Sappe’ remarked: “I am certain that this opportunity to compare experiences and ideas with foreign colleagues will give our people many ideas for new projects here in Italy.  For my part, I was particularly struck by the Dutch project “Dementalent”, as it took for granted cooperation with local communities but also concentrated on the skills and talents of dementia sufferers and helped them use those skills and talents to volunteer for projects to help out their local communities.

”The Director of the Rifugio Re Carlo Alberto, Marcello Galetti, tired but content at the end of the day, told me: “I think the greatest insight the work of our foreign colleagues has given us is a heightened awareness that we must try to increase our services to and activities for persons in the early stages of dementia.  As the projects our European colleagues presented have shown, we in Italy need to catch up in this area.  At the same time, it was gratifying to see that our own established working principle of putting the whole person at the center of our endeavors is the right one, and one that is shared by others in the field.”