About
My name is Annick Germeys and I live in Hasselt, a provincial capital in Belgium. I have a daughter and a son. I work as a project manager in a regional hospital, a job that I can currently still combine with caring for my husband Geert. He worked as a senior IT consultant but lost his job in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. It became clear some time later why this happened: he was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer's disease. He was 53 years old at the time. Together, we sought ways to give meaning to life despite this diagnosis, and this has been fairly successful so far. Geert has experienced significant language loss, which makes things challenging, but he remains positive. He is open about his illness, aims to inspire others, and works to remove the stigma. He participated in the program "Restaurant Misverstand" (The restaurant that makes mistakes), we appeared together in the program "Iedereen Beroemd" (Everybody Famous) on Belgium Television, share our story in various media and regularly speak at training events or lectures upon invitation.
After the diagnosis, I was shocked that, aside from medication, we received no further support, unlike what is typical for other chronic illnesses. I took it upon myself to seek out opportunities, support, knowledge about the disease, interventions, meaning, and more. Because I believe this can be much improved, I joined the Flemish working group for caregivers of people with dementia of the Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen. Together, we strive to get the 'missing support for caregivers' on the agenda of our governments.
I am deeply motivated to share my experiences and collaborate on finding solutions to the challenges we face daily. My involvement in this group stems from a sincere desire to assist others and advocate for the needs of caregivers like myself. Through my personal journey, I can offer a unique perspective and contribute to identifying practical solutions and support for the issues we encounter. Together, I hope we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by dementia and their loved ones. I look forward to collaborating and striving for a better future for us all.
In 2024, Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen nominated Annick Germeys for the mandate 2024-2027.