On 20 January, a three-year collaboration protocol was signed between the Presidency of Darülaceze and the Turkish Alzheimer Association. The areas of collaboration include:
1. Developing educational content and modular pro-grammes on dementia and Alzheimer's disease for healthcare, caregiving and occupational staff working under the Presidency of Darülaceze and providing training to personnel.
2. Creating projects and models for early diagnosis, intervention, and independent living for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
3. Conducting scientific studies and projects to raise awareness and providing information about dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
The signing ceremony was attended by Elmas Esra Ceceli Islam, President of Darülaceze and the following participants from the Turkish Alzheimer Association: Prof. Dr Başar BİLGİÇ, Chairman of the Board; Assoc. Prof. Dr Nil Tekin, Board member; Arzu Kartum, Institutional Relations Coordi-nator and Nurse Ümmügül Geyik, Education and Health Co-ordinator. Darülaceze is an institution established during the Ottoman era in Istanbul, providing shelter, care, and educational services to the elderly, sick, disabled, or those in need. The word "Darülaceze" originates from the Arabic words "dar" (house) and "aceze" (weakness, frailty). Such institutions aim to ease the lives of vulnerable members of society by offering essential services.
The importance of Darülaceze lies in its mission to ensure that individuals in need receive the necessary care and sup-port without being excluded from society, enabling them to live better lives. Today, Darülaceze continues to play a crucial role in social services by offering housing, healthcare, and psychological support to the elderly, disabled, and other vul-nerable individuals. The Presidency of Darülaceze currently serves approximately 600 people in its campus in the Şişli district. Additionally, it is expanding its services with a newly established campus in the Arnavutköy district. The Darülaceze Social Living City in Arnavutköy has a capacity of 928 beds and spans an area of 145,727 m².
The collaboration between the Presidency of Darülaceze and the Turkish Alzheimer Association in the field of dementia and Alzheimer's disease will further enhance the quality of healthcare and caregiving services provided to patients. This partnership is a remarkable example of social solidarity and responsibility, offering a positive and hopeful development for all individuals and families affected by these conditions.