More than 100,000 calls and e-mails have been answered by the consultants of Alzheimer Telephone, the Alzheimer and dementia hotline of the German Alzheimer's Association (DAlzG), since the service was launched in January 2002. A multi-professional team provides advice from Monday to Friday at +49 30 259 37 95 14. On Wednesdays from 10:00 to 12:00, Turkish-speaking advice is also offered. Every year, between 5,000 and 6,000 people register, and the number of enquiries has risen steadily over the past few years, as has the duration of individual interviews.
The concerns of the callers are very diverse: the most common questions (around 20%) concern the treatment of people with dementia and the impact on relatives due to the care situation (about 14%). There are also enquiries about the symptoms of dementia, the diagnosis and treatment options, as well as legal provisions. Many callers also ask for concrete support and funding by long-term care insurance. Almost half of the callers who turn to the Alzheimer Telephone are adult children of people with dementia. About 20% of calls are from caregiving spouses who seek help and counselling using this hotline. The consultants on the Alzheimer Telephone have many years of experience and regularly expand their specialist knowledge through advanced training. In the discussions, they respond to all concerns individually. The service is free and anonymous if requested. The Alzheimer Telephone is financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
