The Greek association of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders of Larissa (Alzheimer's Association of Larissa, EENAL), in response to the needs of its patients and fellow citizens, carried out original and innovative activities for World Alzheimer's Day 2019. A gathering was held at the EENAL offices on the morning of 21 September, at which President Eleni Kamboura-Nifli and volunteers offered coffee and various delicacies to patients, their carers and friends of people with dementia. They discussed nutrition issues, pets and especially helper dogs.
The volunteer and veterinary surgeon Athanasia Grammenoudi, with her dog Danae (a pinscher) standing alongside her, informed everyone about the usefulness of assistant dogs as a companion, to combat loneliness, as guides and as guard dogs. Later on, she began a cognitive enhancement laboratory with people with dementia, with the assistance of Danae. Danae, with her calmness and playfulness, held everybody’s interest and brought back memories of childhood, as well as adulthood experiences, resulting in each participant with dementia telling their own unique story. One of them, Katerina, walked with Danae at her side and told the story of her own pet, Lisa.
During the afternoon of the same day, the fountain in the city’s Central Square was lit in purple, a colour associated with the Alzheimer's movement. With the purple fountain in Central Square as a starting point, EENAL’s 1 memory walk took place. The president of EENAL, volunteers, carers, Dementia Friends and Danae the dog walked together. Holding purple balloons, they strolled along the city's sidewalks and streets, aiming to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease among different age groups, to evoke acceptance of those affected and to involve society. During the walk, volunteers shared balloons and people were eager to participate in this event. The walk was successfully completed at the city's hill, from where the following message was sent:
“I get informed, I discuss it, I'm not afraid of the disease, I'm getting involved.”
People with dementia and their families were so pleased about the event and the positive message that was conveyed to the public, that they asked for the memory walk to be established as a means of empowerment. The President of EENAL thanked the volunteers and the participants and assured them that “we will always move forward together and forcefully”.
