Dutch approach to dementia goes international

A quarter of a century ago, the first one emerged in the Amsterdam Pijp, now there are 146 all over the country: meeting centers for people with dementia and their informal caregivers.

In the meeting centers inform carers to deal with people with dementia, but at the same time observe themselves. At the same time, patients learn to get as much out of life as possible and, for example, do not unnecessarily crawl into their shell. They get more positive and less negative emotions and more self-esteem, says initiator Rose-Marie Dröes, professor of psychosocial support in dementia.

In the UK, Italy and Poland it has already been picked up, there are already fifteen such centers in total. Also in Aruba, in Australia and in Suriname there is one and Spain is preparing for the first two. It is also not too expensive a provision, because the meetings are often held in community centers and the like and are organized with the help of volunteers.

' We want to continue now, 'says Dröes about the international network of which she is part of five colleagues from Great Britain, Italy, Poland and the Netherlands. The intention is to share knowledge and experiences and to realize more meeting centers.

The initiators celebrate the silver jubilee Thursday in the Amsterdam theater DelaMar.

Invalid email address. Please fill in again.

Unsubscribe with 1 click