2023-12-26 10:24:51
The president of the Spanish Confederation of Alzheimer’s and other dementias (CEAFA), María Dolores Almagro Cabrera, analyzes, in this article for EFEsalud, the challenges, measures and actions around dementia for 2024.
The president of CEAFA, María Dolores Almagro Cabrera/Courted photo
The challenges, measures and actions to confront Alzheimer’s and dementia in 2024 are analyzed by the president of CEAFA, María Dolores Almagro.
María Dolores Almagro is a lawyer and began her work as a volunteer in the world of Alzheimer’s in 2010, founding the Afacontigo Alzheimer Association in Motril (Granada) when her mother was diagnosed with this neurological disease and there were no resources in the town.
After becoming president of the Granada Alzheimer’s Federation in 2014, two years later, in 2016, she joined CEAFA as a member.
In 2019 she held the vice presidency of this organization and since January 2022 she has been the president of neck.
Challenges, measures and actions around dementia for 2024
By María Dolores Almagro Cabrera
Today, dementia remains one of the biggest global health challenges. According to estimates, 50 million people suffer from dementia, and this number is expected to triple by 2050. The disease not only affects sick people, but also their family caregivers, so improving their care is crucial.
Dementia challenges: care for families
The first measure to take is to improve care for families and promote empathy in health personnel and in society in general.
Dementia is not only a physical burden, but also an emotional and psychological burden for family caregivers.
Families need resources, training and support to understand the disease and learn strategies to deal with daily challenges.
In addition, there needs to be public education that fosters understanding and empathy towards people with dementia and thus generates social awareness, thus eliminating the stigma associated with dementia and encouraging societies to be supportive and friendly to dementia.
The approach to dementia should not only focus on improving the quality of life of patients and their families but also on implementing measures and strategies that address medical aspects and the implementation of non-exclusive policies for the group.
It is essential to strengthen early and accurate detection and diagnosis programs. Public awareness and training of health professionals are key to identifying signs of dementia in the initial stages, allowing for more effective treatment and advance planning of the wishes of affected people.
Dementia challenges: investing in research
Investment in research and development of innovative treatments is another fundamental pillar.
Support research to explore pharmacological therapies that lead to the discovery and development of innovative therapies that improve quality of life, slow disease progression, make it chronic and even cure it, as well as support non-pharmacological therapies that together The pharmacological therapies that exist right now are very useful in slowing down the cognitive deterioration of patients.
In this sense, it is also critical that the state does everything in its power to be adequately prepared to take on the new treatments and therapies that are yet to come.
Dementia challenges: training caregivers
Ongoing training for caregivers and health professionals is crucial.
Providing resources and emotional support to families is a necessary measure to confront the psychological and emotional impact of dementia.
Likewise, promoting support networks and caregiver groups can help share experiences and effective strategies to cope with caring for a person with dementia with less stress and anxiety.
Additionally, creating dementia-friendly and supportive environments is vital. From healthcare facilities to public spaces, adapting places to be accessible and understandable for people with dementia contributes significantly to their well-being. This adaptation includes clear signage, adequate lighting, and staff training in interacting with people living with dementia.
Promotion of non-exclusive policies
The promotion of non-exclusive and supportive policies is a central aspect of any comprehensive strategy to address dementia.
This implies not only the creation of long-term care services, but also the implementation of flexible work policies for family caregivers, specific protection laws for people with dementia, adapting resources to specific needs and avoiding general formulas. of resource allocation.
Dementia affects the entire family, and social policies must recognize and address this reality.
The need for a true National Plan
And all this would have been possible by implementing and financially providing the Comprehensive Plan for Alzheimer’s and other dementias prepared in 2019 by the STATE DEMENTIA GROUP promoted by the Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare through IMSERSO and coordinated by the State Reference Center of care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, valuing and taking into account, where appropriate, contributions made by different Ministerial departments, Autonomous Communities and social agents such as our organization.
Unfortunately, the plan died before it was born, which means that Spain has lost five years whose use would have been invaluable.
Therefore, the challenge, once again, is the development and launch of a true National Plan, adequately equipped, as an instrument of organization, coordination and leadership of the comprehensive approach to Alzheimer’s and other dementias in Spain..
A man wears a mask that reads “united by dementia”/EFE/EPA/JAGADEESH NV
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