Today, the Alzheimer Europe Board adopted recommendations for Alzheimer associations, health and social care professionals on how to promote the wellbeing of people with dementia and carers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alzheimer Europe highlights how physical distancing rules affect people with dementia who may find their normal routines disrupted, lack cognitive stimulation, feel lonely and anxious and risk depression. Similarly, their partners, relatives and close friends involved in their care may encounter challenges due to the disruption of normal routines and the loss of support and closure of services. Finally, health and social care professionals are striving to provide appropriate and timely treatment, support and care despite fears for their own safety due to the lack of protective clothing in some countries.
For the development of its recommendations, the Alzheimer Europe Board built on in-depth discussions with its member organisations and ministry officials from the European Governmental Expert Group on Dementia who shared some of the innovative ways in which associations and governments continue to provide support to people with dementia, such as tailored and easy-to-understand information, online support, the use of new technologies to allow physical distancing and social interactions, coordinated home support for people with dementia through local branches and maintaining of routines at home and in residential care.
Commenting on these recommendations, Jean Georges, Executive of Director, said: “I am in awe at how quickly Alzheimer associations and health and social care professionals have responded to the COVID-19 challenge and continue to provide essential information, support and care to people with dementia and their carers. They deserve the full support of national governments and I hope our recommendations provide some guidance on how to promote the wellbeing of people with dementia and carers in these difficult times.”
The full recommendations adopted by the Alzheimer Europe Board are online here: https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Policy/Our-opinion-on/Wellbeing-of-people-with-dementia-during-COVID-19-pandemic