Romanian National Alzheimer Conference 2019 with International Participation, 9th Edition, "News in Dementia field", 20-23 February 2019

Romanian Alzheimer Society, (Bucharest, Romania, Willbrook Platinum & Convention Center)

Last week in February Romanian National Alzheimer Conference 2019 with International Participation took place in Bucharest, Romania. The event gathered around 500 participants mainly psychiatrists, geriatricians and neurologists, as well as other specialists involved in the assistance of the elderly patient with dementia-psychologists, kinetotherapists, nurses and architects. More information about the event can be found on the event's website:

https://ralcom.eventsair.com/cnalz2019/

The conference was a great opportunity to present the INDEED Project to Romanian specialists. The presentation was made by the project team in Romania, responsible for WP2- Communication Activities, Mihaela Zamfir, Communication Manager INDEED Project bringing to the participants the activities completed during the the first 6 months  of the project.

Below you can read the summary of the presentation:

INNOVATION IN DEMENTIA IN THE DANUBE REGION. INDEED PROJECT, COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES, FIRST 6 MONTHS

Zamfir (Grigorescu) Mihaela1, Zamfir Mihai V2, Moglan Maria3, Sfetcu Raluca4, Tudose Cătălina5

1Lecturer PhD Arch., Department „Synthesis of Architectural Design”, Faculty of Architecture, „Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest, Romania;

2Assist. Prof. PhD Md. Geriatrics-Gerontology, Psychiatry, P hysiology II-Neuroscience Division, Faculty of Medicine, „Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy; Medicover, Bucharest, Romania;

3  Psych. PhD, Vice-President of Romanian Alzheimer Society, Bucharest, Romania;

4 Assoc. Prof. PhD. Psych., Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, "Spiru Haret" University, Bucharest, Romania;

5 Univ. Prof. PhD. Md., President of Romanian Alzheimer Society, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.

Correspondent author: Zamfir (Grigorescu) Mihaela,

 e-mail: mmg_architecturestudio@yahoo.com

BACKGROUND: As a consequence of demographic changes, dementia is a growing societal challenge in the Danube region. However, the quality of dementia care lags behind European standards in terms of knowledge, skills and cooperation of healthcare professionals, availability of specific services, and use of assistive technology. The Danube region also suffers from emigration of healthcare workers. INDEED Project  aims to improve dementia care in the Danube region and to contribute to the implementation of national dementia strategies in order to enhance the quality of life of people with dementia and their informal carers. This paper will highlight the role of Romanian Alzheimer Society (RAS) in in the project, namely work package WP2, Communication Activities, for the first 6 months.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The consortium comprises 10 project partners and 10 associated strategic partners from 6 upstream countries (AT, CZ, DE, SI, SK) and 4 downstream countries (BA, BG, HU, RO). INDEED Project is organized on 8 work packages (WP0-WP7) and aims to develop three educational modules: CAMPUS- institutions involved in dementia care, this module provides shared learning and facilitates changes; CONNECT- with embedded principles of dementia case management including horizontal / vertical integration of services; COACH- a business consultancy service for social entrepreneurs, service providers and start-ups. The three modules will be elaborated in traditional (presentations, seminars, printed documents) and internet-based formats (e-learning programmes, webinars) and evaluated in pilot actions at selected sites. In collaboration with decision makers from ministries and public ad-ministrations the modules will be adjusted to practical and local needs. In the present research we will present the deliverables within the communication work package (WP2) for the first 6 months.

EXPECTED RESULTS: The intervention package will be provided to all interested stakeholders within and beyond the project region. The first six months ended for the Communication workpackage with Communication Plan, Media Kit, IT Factsheet and the 1st Newsletter. The project targets to make dementia-care a health priority in the Danube region. Communication activities will raise awareness among target groups about the importance of improving dementia care in the Danube region and will contribute to the implementation of national dementia strategies.

CONCLUSIONS: INDEED Project proves to be an important and absolutely necessary contribution to the Danubian region for the quality of life of patients with dementia.

Keywords: INDEED Project, dementia-friendly, quality of life, Danube region, interdisciplinarity