The Serbian Society for Alzheimer's disease was founded in 2020 by doctors, social workers and carers. In Serbia, the patients, after receiving therapy, are being left to fend for themselves. Family members, often only one person, take care of them. That is why the Society launched a pilot project earlier this year – a centre for people with dementia - in cooperation with the Amity Association and under the auspices of the Serbian Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography.
Currently, the Centre is open only on Thursdays from 4 pm to 7 pm. The hope, however, is that it will continue to work next year with a constantly increasing number of hours and days. The organisers are aware that to provide adequate help, it is necessary for the centre to work continuously. This is only the first step, but it has proven to be very successful already.
Activities in the centre are carried out by a social worker and a team of volunteers. A retired professor of music is constantly present, helping with one of the favourite activities in the Centre – singing and members of the local choir of the elderly are often guests at the centre. Ladies from a knitters' association organise handicrafts, and dementia centre users also enjoy bowling. The staff will be joined by a social worker with several years of experience in caring for older people, who is also a certified yoga instructor. Another social worker, the president of the board, runs the chat rooms.
All these activities, but also socialising with other people, the joy of creating and a sense of usefulness, mean that the users of the centre think of Thursdays as a special day of the week. Within the centre, carers have the opportunity to meet and share experiences. In addition, they can seek the advice of a medical specialist and a social worker. Good results mean that the centre will continue to work and although there is a long road ahead, the staff are ready to keep walking!
