The Serbian Association for Alzheimer's Disease (SUAB), together with its members, people with dementia and their families, conducted a World Alzheimer’s Day campaign, in line with the campaign of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI). They petitioned the Institute of Public Health of Serbia and the City Institute of Public Health Belgrade to include World Alzheimer's Day in their event calendars. Additionally, they proposed to the mayors of major cities in Serbia to illuminate in purple public buildings, bridges, and fountains on the night between 21-22 September and the initiative was accepted. Many interviews and appearances in the national media (25 events) followed, along with posts on SUAB’s social media and those of its members.
On 20 September, SUAB also published the following public statement: “We lack day care centres and respite accommodation, support groups, counselling, educational workshops for people with dementia and their families as well as systematic education for healthcare professionals.” A family member caring for a person with dementia cannot receive more than one week of sick leave per year in Serbia, nor does an employed family carer have the option of working part-time. Access to financial support for home care is difficult and there are no permanent or temporary vacancies available in public health care and old-age care institutions. Therefore, SUAB called on the Government of the Republic of Serbia, local governments, and individuals “to recognise the urgency of the situation and take decisive measures to raise awareness and reduce stigma, which remains an obstacle to diagnosis, treatment, care, and support for people with dementia and their families.”
