Wednesdays have been “ACTION” days since the first Day Care Centre in Turkey was initiated in 2011. On the first Wednesday of every month, a medical person presents information about the disease and the related care issues; while on the third Wednesday of the month, an expert psychologist offers a group therapy session to caregivers. The second and fourth Wednesdays are “Fun Days” and people with dementia and their caregivers get together for a party with live music, at which they can enjoy singing and dancing all together, regardless of whether they are Day Care Centre members or not. These activities are called “Tea Parties”, because after each one the guests are served tea, cakes, cookies, etc.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the first measure taken by the Turkish Alzheimer Society was to shut down the Centre and start a help-line, as well as publishing printed texts and videos on its website and social media, all of which the Society did immediately, to ensure continuity of services inasmuch as it was possible. For the first weeks, this worked very well because, mainly, people needed information and reassurance. After the first month or so had passed, however, the Turkish Alzheimer Society became aware that both caregivers and people with dementia started longing for their Tea Parties, where they enjoyed socialising. Consequently, “Digital Tea Parties” were started, which are now being organised every Thursday afternoon, and at which all are welcome, unconditionally.
On Thursdays, an online meeting is also organised, that is announced on all the Society’s digital channels. For each meeting a guest speaker is invited, based on the theme for that week. Examples of guest participants so far, are: a nurse; a social worker; a music therapist (with all participants singing and dancing); a psychologist (a group therapy on caregivers’ self-care); a neurologist; and a physical trainer (with live exercising). On 25 June, “psychodrama” was the theme explored with people with dementia and their caregivers, and the next session, on 2 July 2020, will be “Art Therapy at Home”. In order to increase participation, information on how to participate in Zoom/Telco/Skype meetings is communicated via social media channels, using colourful “posters”.
It is clear, from feedback received from participants at these digital events, that this type of function needs to be continued, even after the current public health crisis, says the Turkish Alzheimer Society. First of all, because distance and location are no longer an issue, even if a participant, speaker or organiser is not in the same city or country, let alone the same building. Additionally, time limitations are overcome, since the links to the video recordings of the meetings are disseminated instantly. Last but not the least, the meetings become public property and anyone can participate anonymously.
