During September, Alzheimer Portugal developed four different initiatives, marking World Alzheimer's Month, some at national level, and others locally.
Manifesto
At the national level, the “Manifesto” for a national integrated approach to Alzheimer´s and other dementias, named “Pela Memória Futura” (For the Future Memory) was launched via social media (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn). A press release was sent to print and TV press, all of which had a great impact. Several newspapers, health publications and radio channels interviewed Alzheimer Portugal representatives and published several articles and interviews. The Manifesto has four main axes:
• To prioritise (dementia has to be recognised a national social and public health priority)
• To make it happen (“Concretizar” – turn ideas and politics into action)
• To raise awareness (develop campaigns to make all stakeholders aware of dementia)
• To bring together (articulation between the different stakeholders: Health, Social Affairs, Municipalities, among others, in order to reach a holistic approach to dementia care).
Memory Café
Alzheimer Portugal opened its 23rd Memory Café, this time in Portimão in the Algarve with the support of the municipality. Ativamenta - O Clube do Cérebro This is an awareness campaign, organised by Alzheimer Portugal with the support of Roche, launched on the Alzheimer Portugal website, via social media and in a press release. The main goal of this campaign (Activ + mente (mind) – the brain club) was to make the public aware about the strategies we can develop to preserve our brain health. The campaign also happened through an exhibition that took place at Cascais shopping centre, with interactive exercises for passers-by: playing music on a xylophone, doing puzzles, and a variety of different games. The exhibition can be transported to different places, with the same materials. According to the communications agency that followed the campaign (Guess What), it reached 972,133 people, had a broadcast time of 00:11:06, EUR 1,372,107 of press return and 20 news items were published.
Sailing with people with dementia
Thanks to a partnership with the association “Seawoman” (association for the promotion of women through sports and nautical activities) Alzheimer Portugal's Lisbon Day Care Centre organised a sailing trip for people with dementia. People with dementia, family carers and staff (16 people in total) spent some very pleasant time on two sailboats, along the river Tejo. Everyone was very happy and enjoyed the sunny weather and the lovely city of Lisbon, seen from the water. It was a unique experience.
