About
My name is Angela Pototschnigg. I live in Vienna and have been living with cognitive impairments since 2015. The path to a valid diagnosis took a long time, at first burnout was diagnosed, but this turned out to be wrong.
I am an ambassador for inclusion and the rights of people with dementia. As of January 2019, I hold peer-talks twice a month for those with memory problems, organised and supported by Alzheimer Austria. The goal is to reach others who are worried about their memory or have received a diagnosis of dementia and want to exchange views. For the last years, I have been invited to speak in committees about the concerns, needs and wishes of people with dementia, such as in the Austrian Dementia Strategy and the adopted care reform. I give talks in dementia-friendly communities, to family carers and professional caregivers and I engage in projects that focus on participation of and information about people living with dementia.
Since 2022, I have been on the board of the national umbrella organization Demenz Selbsthilfe Austria.
In 2018, I was nominated by Alzheimer Austria for the European Working Group of People with Dementia, and then again in 2020 and 2022.
These activities are very important to me, since it gives my life meaning.