On 19 and 20 March members of the EWGPWD and their supporters gathered in Brussels. The discussions were facilitated by Public Involvement Lead, Ana Diaz. Public Involvement Officers Soraya Moradi-Bachiller, Sarah Campill and Daphné Lamirel also attended the meeting. On the first day of the meetings, Ana introduced the new model of the EWGPWD and its implications for members’ tenure within the group. She then turned to the upcoming Alzheimer Europe conference, which will be held in October in Geneva. Members discussed who would represent the EWGPWD in the plenary session and the topics they would address. Some members also expressed interest in speaking at some of the conference’s plenary sessions. Later that evening, EWGPWD members and supporters attended an event at the European Parliament alongside other representatives of Alzheimer Europe and national dementia associations.
The focus of the reception was on highlighting the importance of prioritising dementia in the upcoming EU elections. Ten MEPs attended, and signed a pledge showing their commitment to the cause. The following day’s discussions centred on Alzheimer Helsinki Manifesto, which highlights recommendations for action at national and EU level to prioritise dementia in Europe. Ana Diaz presented the document and members highlighted which areas they saw as most crucial, drawing from their experiences in their countries. They also expressed their opinions on issues that may not be sufficiently addressed in the Manifesto. The meeting then focused on the next steps for campaigning on dementia in the EU elections. Attendees reflected on the key messages that should be put forward for the campaign and on effective methods to spread these messages, such as videos.
The meetings concluded with a consultation on the INTEREST project, a European Joint Programme for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND)-funded project. Two researchers from this project joined the meeting: Martina Roes (DZNE, Germany) and Louise Hopper (DCU, Ireland). Members and supporters shared their experiences and opinions on the topics of social health, inequities and intersectionality. They also discussed their opinion on unmet needs as a person living with dementia or a supporter. The session was interactive, with participants offering very valuable feedback. The researchers intend to thoroughly analyse and summarise this feedback, using it as a foundation for their future work on the project. We would like to thank all members for joining the EWGWPD meetings in Brussels and for actively participating throughout.
