In 1999, Alzheimer Europe:
- has been active in developing projects which could be carried out with the support of the European Commission. In this respect, we were happy to receive funding under three different programmes in 1999, namely:
- Actions in favour of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, more particularly Alzheimer type (DAT) and related disorders, and their (informal) carers;
- Support for representative European co-ordination organisations active in the field of equal opportunities for disabled people;
- Preparatory measures combating and preventing discrimination.
- was pleased to see the efforts of our member organisations in having the European Care Manual practical guide for carers published in eleven official languages. Thus, this Alzheimer Europe publication has been successfully launched in Danish, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Turkish and has constituted an important tool for the concerned member organisations in raising awareness of the disease and in promoting best practice in the field of caring at home.
- saw the end of the Alzheimer Europe Lawnet project which consisted in carrying out a survey of the various laws affecting people with dementia and their carers in the 15 Member States of the European Union.
- drafted a book for children aged 8 to 11 in close co-operation with the Luxembourg Alzheimer association. It is aimed at helping children, often the forgotten victims during family crises, to come to terms with and understand more about Alzheimer’s disease. As the book is intended for a young audience, it was written and presented in a style, which ensured that it is accessible and easily understandable.
- participated in the REMIND (Research effort to maximise information on neurodegenerative diseases) project of the European Institute of Women’s Health in Dublin. As part of its contribution, Alzheimer Europe contributed a national report on the service provision in Luxembourg. The report "Dementia Care: Challenges for an Ageing Europe" was presented at the European Institute’s Conference on 22 March 1999.
- took part in a project of the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care of the University of Glamorgan. This study brought together representatives of various research projects in an attempt to synthesise the emerging data.
- was granted consultative status as an NGO by the Council of Europe and as such will be integrated more closely in the consultation process established by a large number of Council of Europe departments.
- has enlarged its co-operation with other European organisations active in the field of ageing, disability, social integration, public health or non-discrimination.
- established first contacts with the European Platform of Social NGOs, a Federation of various non-profit organisations working in the social field (disability, equal opportunities, social exclusion, non-discrimination, health).
- has actively participated in various meetings of the think tank set up by EFPIA bringing together representatives of industry and European patients’ organisations.
- organised its first multi-disciplinary Forum in the European Parliament bringing together carers, clinicians, regulatory authorities and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry in order to jointly discuss: "The future of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in Europe – Hopes and fears about the development of anti-dementia drugs".
- organised the 9th Annual Conference of Alzheimer Europe, which took place from 30 June to 2 July in London and which marked at the same time the 20th Anniversary of the Alzheimer’s Society. The conference entitled "A Meeting of Minds – Care and Science in Dementia" attracted over 600 participants (people with dementia, carers, care and health professionals, researchers and scientists), thus making it one of Europe’s biggest meetings on dementia in 1999. 106 papers were presented during the three-day event by 100 speakers from more than 15 countries.