Alzheimer Caf or how to develop conviviality

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Alzheimer Caféor how to develop conviviality

• Sabine HENRY
• President of the Ligue Alzheimer asbl (B)
• Vice-president of Alzheimer Europe

15th Alzheimer Europe Conference Killarney
(Ireland) 11th June 2005
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Alzheimers Disease

but...
ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
LIGHT STAGE
MODERATE STAGE
SEVERE STAGE
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Alzheimer Café What is that in fact ?

• DEFINITION
• A convivial place of meeting for patients,
  families, professionals, interested people,

A view of an Alzheimer Café in Charleroi (Belgium)
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Alzheimer Café in Belgium From where does that
come ?

• ORIGINS
• an initiative of Bere Miesen, Doctor in
  psychology (Mariëhaven, Holland). The general
  difficulty for all to talk about the disease
  (taboo).
• the dance-cafés in Germany. An opportunity to
  maintain social, interhuman abilities

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Alzheimer Café Where is this in Belgium ?

North Sea
Netherlands
B
Liège
Brussels
Eupen
Ottignies (in preparation)
Germany
Charleroi
Namur
France
Neufchâteau
Luxemburg
10.000.000 citizens 150.000 people with dementia
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Alzheimer Café in Liège

in life,
in the city
A view of Liège (Belgium)
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Alzheimer Café Who takes part ?
visitors

actors
experts
Students
Families
Carers
Patients
Media
Public authorities
Ligue Alzheimer
Dog
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Alzheimer Café A field for new experiences
Maintaining abilities learning by doing
Alzheimer Café
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Alzheimer Café Why ? A lack of information

• OBJECTIVE
• Spend a pleasant moment with each other
• Be informed (informally) and exchange within a
  normal (not institutional) framework and so
  facilitate the acceptance of the disease for
  everyone

A view of an Alz. Café in Charleroi (B)
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Alzheimer Café Whats necessary ?
" Where is a will there is a way ! "

• ORGANIZATION, CO-OPERATION
• with the local group of self-help (animation,
  group line, topics, material)
• local and private support (room, sponsoring of
  drinks, transport)
• Definition of a yearly program, once a month, at
  firm times and working days
• Announcement for the concerned public via press,
  TV, Ligue Alzheimer,

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Alzheimer Café How is this made ?
Vade- mecum

• METHOD
• Open group, indefinite number of participants.
  Informal framework with a season-adapted
  decoration. Orienting and normalizing behavior of
  the group line
• TIMING
• in each case /- 2 hours in the early afternoon
• UNFOLDING
• individual greetings - Café/thé - topic of the
  daily before the group - free exchange - scatter
  into small groups - Café/thé - progressive locking

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Alzheimer Café What do we do ?
Different activities and discussions according to
the season, the mood, the desires,

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE DEMENTIA
and of course...
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Alzheimer Café

SILENCE
Here we answer to everything !
No taboo !
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Alzheimer Café Key words
CO
"
"
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COmmunication
COnviviality
COmpetence
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Alzheimer Café

briefing
information
Juste like in a sports team, a coach shows
the way to follow, the aim to reach,
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Alzheimer Café

knowledge
Alzheimer Café
company
ignorance
taboo
freedom
stigma
autonomy
loneliness
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Alzheimer Café which costs ?

• EXPENSES
• As low as possible, with optimal quality
• Room
• Drinks, pastry, napkins, etc
• With prof. group line
• 3 hours of preparation time
• 3 hours of work time locally
• Dispatch of the announcement, invitations away
  (postage, telephone, email)

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Alzheimer Café which costs ? (2)

• INDIRECT COST
• A lot of time for
• Preparation
• Contacts, telephone, emails,
• Information work in the local group
• Search for sponsors

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After an Alzheimer Café

Alzheimer Café
Liège (Belgium)
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Ligue Alzheimer asbl Alzheimer Café among
others

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What about a european Alzheimer Café ?

Please come in touch with us !!!
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Ligue Alzheimer asbl

• Montagne Sainte-Walburge 4bis
• B-4000 Liège
• BELGIUM
• Tel. fax [phone]
• E-mail henry.sabine_at_skynet.be
• Website www.alzheimer.be
• www.lademence.be

New !
New !