In Athens, Alzheimer Athens, in collaboration with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, successfully organised for the third year in a row the Alzheimer Festival 2025. The event “Building a better future for people with dementia and their caregivers” brought together more than 5,000 participants: professionals, caregivers, families, stakeholders and the public in a shared commitment to raising awareness and advancing dementia care in Greece. Dr Paraskevi Sakka, President of Alzheimer Athens and of the Greek Dementia Observatory, announced the update of the National Dementia Plan and underlined the urgency of its full implementation, as well as the creation of 15 new day care centres funded by the Ministry of Health. Distinguished speakers contributed insights regarding new therapeutic approaches, nutrition, mental health and sustainable models of care. The festival also featured memory tests for older adults, workshops on diet and physical exercise for better cognitive health, educational activities for children, and brief counselling sessions for caregivers, who also shared their personal testimonies. The association Nestor set up a special informational kiosk at Syntagma Square, in the heart of the city of Athens offering guidance and answers to the public’s concerns regarding dementia. Nestor also launched a new programme of architectural walks in the city with the history of the buildings awakening many memories from the past.
Karelleio, the integrated Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Unit of the association Apostoli, held informative speeches about dementia and conducted free memory tests, addressing issues such as the early symptoms of the disease, ways of managing it, the impact of prevention while also providing advice to caregivers. A two-day psycho-educational seminar was held, designed to address caregivers of people with dementia, health professionals, volunteers and students in the field of health sciences, highlighting the need of education about Alzheimer's disease.
In Thessaloniki, Alzheimer Hellas organised a successful main informative event, “Smart ideas for healthy ageing”, with a keynote speech by Magda Tsolaki, emeritus professor and President of the Panhellenic Federation of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. The city hall was packed, with more than 350 participants, all of whom were informed about prevention, the latest guidelines on diagnosis and treatment, and useful ways to cope with the disease. The Minister of Mental Health, the Deputy Minister of Macedonia and Thrace, representatives of the Governor, the Parliament and Municipalities underlined the importance of the services provided by the association. A Memory Walk saw attendees holding balloons, after a march through the main streets of the city, ending at the city’s landmark, the White Tower. The sculpture "Umbrellas" and the Town Hall of Pavlou Mela were also illuminated in honour of World Alzheimer’s Day. Alzheimer Hellas also held informational stands in "Balkan Square" for a week, in Aristotelous square, at the White Tower, at the city hall and at the Youth Volunteering Festival "Connected we stand". Memory tests and various informative speeches for people with dementia and their caregivers were also carried out in various other towns and regions, stressing the great value of public education and awareness.
In Crete, the association “SOLIDARITY” in Heraklion, participated in the organisation of the premiere of a new film about dementia called “Don’t Leave Me Behind”, with a large crowd attending and actively participating in the discussion that followed. The aim of the event was to raise public awareness of dementia and healthy ageing, and the stigma surrounding the disease. The President of Solidarity, Ms Kortsidaki emphasised the problems faced by caregivers, who bear a great burden in their daily lives and need better information and support to improve their quality of life as well as that of the people they care for.
In Chalkida, Remind-Alzheimer Chalkida, in collaboration with Region of Central Greece, organised the awareness campaign “Turning Misinformation into Meaningful Dialogue” across 25 local areas to replace misinformation about dementia with informed, community-based dialogue. Drawing on global scientific evidence while generating new local insights through dedicated research, the project seeks to foster solidarity, acceptance and more compassionate communities.
In Arta, Alzheimer Athens organised the 2nd Senior Citizens Festival, attracting wide public participation, promoting awareness, inclusion, entertainment and creative engagement for older adults. The festival began with the art exhibition “Clocks” and several activities for seniors (yoga sessions, beauty care programme, digital literacy workshop, traditional music and dance). On the second day, a symbolic “Memory Walk” was organised, an “Honor Aging” award was granted to Mr Georgios Kolios, one of the most active senior citizens of Arta, emeritus professor of medicine. A roundtable discussion brought together leading experts, including Dr Paraskevi Sakka, Dr Ioannis Dallas (cardiologist) and Prof. Antonis Politis (psychiatrist), emphasising the importance of prevention in dementia, cardiovascular health, and mental well-being. The evening concluded with a moving choral performance by members of the Alzheimer Athens Day Care Center, in collaboration with the University of Ioannina’s music department.
In Kozani, the local Day Centre for Dementia, of the Nestor Association, organised preventive memory checks for people over 65, an informational talk on the "Key points about dementia and the services of the Day Centre" in neighbouring provincial local communities, and a documentary screening for the caregivers "Dementia, the Next Pandemic" created by the television programme “365 Moments”. After the screening, all concerns that were raised were discussed, highlighting the stereotypes that still exist regarding dementia. Interesting speeches, festivals, memory walks, information stands, free memory tests and many more awareness activities were held in Chania, Patra, Larissa, Serres, Ioannina, Xanthi, Katerini and Rhodes.