The first “Memory Parliament” was held in Finland on 13 February. The Parliament gave people with memory-related diseases and their family members the chance to ask Members of the Finnish Parliament questions. The audience wanted to know, for example, about support for children with a parent who has early onset memory-related disease and how support and services could be provided equally in all parts of Finland. The panel answering questions consisted of four Members of Parliament, all from different political parties.
The Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, Annika Saarikko gave the opening speech. She highlighted the importance of recent discussions in Finland about the quality of care for elderly people: “We have to listen to the people with memory-related issues when discussing their care”, she said. Several lectures covering different issues about memory-friendliness in Finland were also given. The Memory Parliament was organised by the “Memory Club” in the Finnish Parliament, the Alzheimer Society of Finland (Muistiliitto) and its partners.
