The event drew attention to the plight of caregivers supporting people with dementia through the release of 10,000 copies of the booklet. The Greek booklet was developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), and will be followed shortly by a version in English. The launch has been sponsored by the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation and TIMA Charitable Foundation.
During the presentation, a woman affected by Alzheimer’s disease shared her experience and underlined how helpful the manual was for her. “I would like to mention the usefulness of the booklet. It has an efficient structure and content, starting with general information about the disease and progresses into instructions for the support of the patient in question. It provides helpful information for almost any difficulties that may occur during the course of the disease and analyzes methods of support to the patient in order to affect his family as little as possible. I have it on my nightstand. Sometimes I browse through it in the evening before sleep. I always read it after an incident which I doubt or in case I experience unpleasant feelings. It always provides me with information and gives me an answer which helps me and my mother. In other words, I have it with me all the time. I live in a large city such as Thessaloniki and have access to anything I need and this manual is extremely helpful to me; imagine how useful it would be for people living in villages and small towns where support is hard to come by”.
Copies of the “Help for Caregivers” booklet will be distributed to individuals, groups, organizations or institutions anywhere in Greece free of charge via the network of The Greek Federation of Alzheimer’s Associations.
A full copy of the “Help for Caregivers” booklet in Greek is available for download on the ADI Website at www.alz.co.uk/perithalpontes
