The Confederación Española de Alzheimer (CEAFA) has been able to verify the existence of a general lack of knowledge about dementia in Spain, which causes stigma, rejection and social exclusion for those who are living with the condition, either with a diagnosis themselves, or as family carers. With an increasingly ageing population and a growing number of dependent people, today's society demands changes at a global level that support the needs of these people. It is necessary to make this reality visible and to generate a supportive and friendly future with dementia.
In the early stages of the disease, people with some type of dementia continue with their usual lives and are able to continue doing many of their daily activities, such as shopping, going for a walk, having a coffee, etc. Carrying out these activities constitutes the basis of their autonomy and quality of life, which is why it is recommended that they continue to carry these out for as long as possible.
CEAFA has developed a project that aims to sensitise and inform society about dementia and how to detect warning signs, as well as providing guidelines for recognising, and for communicating effectively with, a person with dementia.Through this project, CEAFA has developed action protocols aimed both at entities that provide services to society in general (public and private transport companies, local businesses, healthcare centres) and at local communities, so they know how to support people with dementia. These protocols aim to transform the perception, consideration, and acceptance of people with dementia and family carers. Along with these protocols, CEAFA has also drafted letters of commitment that they want to make available to banks, notaries and insurance companies, encouraging them to contribute to the protection of people with dementia and their assets, through transparency in the information provided and the reinforcement of measures that favour professional ethics.
