Along with 2023, the first year of the EDCWG comes to an end. On this occasion, we share what the year was like for us. We’ll start with some numbers: The EDCWG is a group of 13 active members involved in advisory boards of at least 5 projects. We:
• provided insights and contributed 3 testimonials for AE’s 2023 Yearbook.
• We consulted on the recently published Position Paper on Risk Disclosure
• contributed 12 testimonials to the AE Newsletter
• recorded 2 video testimonials
• made 10 Call for Action videos for the upcoming European Parliament elections
• participated as a group in the 33rd AE Conference in Helsinki, where we were involved in 1 podcast, 1 panel session, 1 conference workshop and moderated 4 sessions. Pretty well done, isn't it?
Testimonials: How do we rate our involvement in the group?
„Loving it!” says Barry Northedge from Scotland, and we all agree with him! It was an extremely enriching experience to work together with such a talented, caring, multinational group of people who still had time for socialising and a lot of laughter despite the challenges. The discussions were incredibly interesting and stimulating as well as relevant to the up-to-date issues of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Being involved in the group was therapeutic for many of us, helping to partially reconcile our past or present (sometimes tough) relationships with our own loved ones with dementia. Being involved in different activities also allowed us insight to the depth and range of work and research that is underway, giving us hope for the future diagnosis and treatment of AD and other dementias.
Tributes and wishes
We sincerely thank Alzheimer Europe (AE) for this extraordinary EDCWG journey together this year, and the opportunity to contribute our life experiences. Thank you to our national associations for nominating us to this group. We wish for the AE community to keep up the great work in 2024, keep the faith that early diagnosis and treatment will be possible, keep creating a more supportive, informed, and compassionate environment for people with dementia and carers, and maintain dementia at the forefront of the minds of all of Europe’s decision makers.
