On 12 May, the Confederacion Espanola de Alzheimer (CEAFA) issued a statement calling for actions to improve the lives of people with dementia as Spain emerges from its COVID-19 lockdown period. In the statement, CEAFA draws attention to the fact that due to COVID-19, over 200,000 people living with dementia are no longer receiving the specialised services and care provided by the 315 member associations of CEAFA. The activities of Spanish Alzheimer’s associations have been severely curtailed due to the COVID-19 lockdown, closing day care and respite centers and leading to the furloughing of more than 80% of the 4,664 personnel employed by these not-for-profit associations.
CEAFA highlights the negative effects of social isolation on people with dementia, including disruption of routines, lack of access to support systems and reduced clinical care, which has led to dementia progression and deterioration for some. This also has negative repercussions for family carers, who cannot access the respite or home care services which would normally support their caregiving activities.
Consequently, CEAFA calls for the reopening of day care and respite centers as a first priority for the national and municipal authorities in the post-lockdown period, with appropriate provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), COVID-19 tests for personnel and comprehensive disinfection of facilities and transport. In addition, CEAFA calls for home care services to be reinstated and/or continued, highlighting the value of providing therapeutic services to people with dementia in their own homes. Reopening day care and respite centers and resuming home care services will also benefit family carers as they resume their professional activities. Finally, CEAFA ask that support be provided to help furloughed staff members to progressively return to work, gradually building up the operational capacities of the Alzheimer’s associations which support over 200,000 people living with dementia in Spain. The full statement can be accessed here:
