Populations around the world are rapidly ageing. However, during the last 50 years in Europe there has been an increase in diseases linked to aging, such as dementia. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be approximately 18.66 million Europeans with a dementia disease. People who are affected by dementia often face cognitive, behavioral and psychosocial difficulties. These difficulties often pose a challenge for engaging socially, reinforcing their effects and reducing personal well-being. As well as the impact on the person, dementia also has a considerable effect on those supporting the person. Most care for people with dementia is provided by family and friends—‘carers’. Most carers feel unprepared to take on this new role. Caring often my cause physical and mental health problems to caregivers caused by stress that caring for someone with dementia brings. Moreover, work and other relationships suffer. Left with inner conflict and resentment, they neglect their own needs. Caring is also a difficult and stressful task for the professional caregivers and they need more knowledge /tools The need of training for caregivers of people affected by dementia is projected to be covered by D-Care project, through the creation of educational program in the form of blended learning, where the caregivers of people with dementia (professionals and non-professionals), will be able to acquire basic skills how to help people with dementia and how to avoid feeling isolated. The program can be used in VET education and training, in-work training to care staff and by volunteers and in adult lifelong learning. The partnership consists of different types of organisations: public and private VET institutions, public employers of professional caregivers, NGOs and SMSs from UK, Denmark, Spain and Greece and a European-wide professional association with its base in Brussels, Belgium. This provides a unique opportunity to find creative solutions together. Partners to the project are: - USER Insieme Regionale Umbria (Perugia, Italy). Lead Partner - Associazione Omnis (Perugia, Italy) - SOSU Østjylland (Aarhus, Denmark) - Age UK (Bristol, UK) - CEBANK (San Sebastian, Spain) - Errotu (San Sebastian, Spain) - p-consulting (Patras, Greece) - Kispe FAROS (Patras, Greece) - Efvet (Brussels, Belgium) The target groups for this project are professional carers, non-professional carers – family members/friends/volunteers, students in health and social care, training providers - teachers, trainers and other workers who will be trained in how to work with dementia sufferers and their caregivers, dementia sufferers. More than 2.000 people will benefit indirectly from or will be the target of the activities organised by the project. Following the teacher training, two courses will be developed; the first will involve professional carers who want to work with dementia sufferers, training in CST and knowledge about setting up groups; the second will involve the non-professional carers in order to help them care for the dementia sufferer, to give them a break (respite) and knowledge about setting up groups for dementia sufferers; the second. The improvement of qualifications of professional carers is one of the priorities of the D-Care project, as through their training they will gain new professional competences, which will enable them to deliver quality services; People with dementia themselves are constantly involved as co-developers in the process Also, the use of ICT and digital area will enable teachers and learners (professionals and non-professionals) to improve their digital skills. The D-Care project is expected to bring positive and long–lasting effects on the participants, as it is intended to produce the following outcomes: • Improve knowledge on dementia and its consequences and preserving quality of life, autonomy and the rights of people living with dementia and their caregivers. • More active participation in society and more positive attitude towards EU values At a systemic level, D-Care project it is expected to response in a positive way to the policies of Europe concerning: • Active citizenship • Promotion of social inclusion and non-discrimination • Lifelong learning The main sustainable effects of the project will include: increased focus on the benefits of innovative dementia care for people living with dementia which includes improved health and well-being and sustainable improvement in support and respite given to carers.
Objectives of the project were to: - Develop an approach of care to help people who experience psychosocial difficulties as a result of dementia, to improve their wellbeing, and gain confidence with engaging socially - Train health care professionals and care givers. - Improve knowledge on this disease and its consequences and to reflect together on the best means of preserving quality of life, autonomy and the rights of people living with dementia. - Contribute to the wellbeing of persons with dementia, by improving the knowledge and skills and developing preventive and care recommendations to their caregivers (professionals or nonprofessionals)
Dementia is one of Europe's biggest challenges in the context of demographic change. It has wideranging social and economic consequences for those living with the condition, their families and carers, and society as a whole. According to the World Health Assembly which has endorsed the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia for 2017-2025, dementia is one of the major causes of disability & dependency among older people worldwide and source of serious problems for carers (women in majority) and families in terms of support to be provided. Dementia has a considerable effect to the people supporting the dementia sufferers. Caring often feels rewarding, but there is also potential for physical and mental health problems caused by stress that caring for someone with dementia brings. The following areas are affected: increasing awareness of dementia and establishing dementia-friendly initiatives; reducing the risk of dementia; diagnosis, treatment and care; research and innovation; and support for dementia carers. They suggest, much can be offered to support and improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers and families.