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, organized 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, and then again in 2020 and 2022.
These activities are very important to me, since it gives my life meaning.