Center Memory
Country
Slovakia
Description
The Center is a project of the Memory foundation in Slovakia. The Center is offering its activities for people suffering from Alzheimer and other forms of dementia and for the professionals that provide social care to these people.
Aims
The activities of Center Memory cover special needs. They help to solve some problems of seniors, people suffering form Alzheimer and other forms of dementia and those who provide social care to these people.
Areas
Education, Health, Leisure, Social services, Training
Effectiveness
Foundation Memory offers complex solutions for problems concerning Alzheimer disease by means of research, health care and social work and support of whole families taking care of disabled people with this type of mental health problems.
Clients need a lot of help from their relatives. In most cases they have to understand that a person with a memory deficit needs also to socialise; financial support from the relatives and transport is also needed frequently.
Services are financed from a Memory fund that collects money especially for these services.
Sustainability
Centre Memory activities are focused on education and training, social and health services and leisure time activities.
The project requires:
- Material facilities, equipment etc.,
- Human resources: knowledge of specialists, humanity,
- A belief is needed in non-pharmaceutical treatment methods such as memory training and cognitive rehabilitation,
- An emphasis on continual strategic planning.
The Foundation Memory is an NGO, thus some independence is guaranteed, but also the clients' financial contribution is needed as well as financial help through sponsoring, grants etc.
Innovation
A specific approach towards people with different types of dementia and their activation is an innovation in the field of medical services.
At least more than 100 people a year have better access to health and social services, education and leisure activities thanks to the project Centre Memory. The process of social inclusion of elderly people with dementia is very difficult and requires a lot of help from professionals and volunteers.
The benefits of the innovative approach to people with mental health problems are:
- an individual approach,
- methods and approaches toward the illness that are keeping up the most actual and newest scientific knowledge,
- an improvement in the mental, cognitive, motoric conditions as well as higher self-reliance and independency of the clients.
Added Value
The contribution of the project with regard to the needs of people with mental health problems include:
- life span education, which is essential to maintain positive mental health,
- non-pharmaceutical therapy.
The mission of the centre is to prevent memory deficits and the social exclusion of people with dementia from in order to provide them with the chance to live with dignity.
There is just one such project in Bratislava region.
Transferability
The methodologies of the project are very simple and flexible.
It is manageable by 3 people in management and some subcontractors - social workers are needed.
Materials for education and memory training are used, as well as educational programmes for social workers and specialists such as "Memory Training and Therapeutic Activation Programme for Seniors".
For cognitive rehabilitation a "Memory Training and Therapeutic Activation Programme for People with Memory Deficits" is being used.
Materials helping to establish special daily programmes for people with dementia are also used.
Mainstreaming Potential
The project's relevance to national and local policy is given on the basis of the following points:
- Demography: the number of elderly people is increasing word, just as in Slovakia;
- Health and medicine: there is a rising number of people with various cognitive disorders and dementia and they need proper care;
- Social problems: rising quality demands and increasing expenses for nursing of people with various cognitive disorders.
The care of this target group is underestimated in Slovakia, at least care of elder people with mental health problems.
The project Centre Memory addresses the problems of Alzheimer and other dementia disorders in Slovakia :
- psychiatric and psychological health services and special therapeutical means for diagnostic and curative purposes;
- memory and vitality training for people higher in age and seniors as memory deficit prevention;
- social services by means of daily program for clients with various cognitive deficits; the focus is on activation, stimulation and keeping a good condition;
- social counselling for clients with various cognitive deficits and also for their relatives and nurses;
- educational activities of the project are focused on an increase of knowledge of professionals and all those that work with people suffering from various cognitive disorders and dementia.
People involved in the Project
3 members of management, 10 social workers, 1 psychiatrist and 1 psychologist
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Project
Strengths:
- specific approach towards people with different types of dementia; their activation is an innovation in the field of medical services;
- the care of this target group is underestimated in Slovakia, at least care of elderly people with mental health problems;
- simple methodology.
Weaknesses:
- the project depends on volunteers work to a great extend.
Contact Person for the Project
Director of Center Memory
Tel/fax: +421262 41 41 43
memory-centrum@nextra.sk
www.alzheimer.sk