In order to support people with dementia, carers, are professionals and national Alzheimer's associations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Alzheimer Europe has put together a range of valuable online resources with helpful information, tips and guidance.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation and also include relevant news developments for people with dementia and their carers in the COVID-19 section of our newsletter:
https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/news
With the coronavirus still widespread across European countries, various restrictions have been put in place ranging from the closure of important services such as day care or respite care to the prohibition of visits to nursing and old people's homes. This situation and some of these restrictions also adversely affect people with dementia and their carers. Since the start of the pandemic, we have published position papers on the following topics:
- Triage decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Wellbeing of people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Dementia research and COVID-19
- COVID-19 vaccinations and people with dementia
To support carers and associations providing support and help for people with dementia in these difficult times, Alzheimer Europe has collected a number of resources which we hope will prove useful.
The long list of resources that have been gathered bears testament to the important and invaluable work provided by national Alzheimer's associations and government agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have broken down these resources into the following categories and will update these pages on a regular basis:
Information for people with dementia
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland
Tips for vulnerable adults
COVID-19 vaccination: what to expect (a leaflet for people with dementia and their families/supporters)
UK Alzheimer’s Society
Information for people living with dementia
5 online activity ideas for people living with dementia
5 ways to keep active for people living with dementia
Vaccines for coronavirus (COVID-19)
Alzheimer Scotland
Guidance for people with dementia and carers
Connecting people, connecting support
Resources and activities for living well with dementia
Age UK
guidance on using video calling to keep in touch
Understand Together Campaign
At Home Activities: meaningful activities for PWD, families and carers
IDEAL programme: improving the experience of dementia and enhancing active life
How to stay well during the COVID-19 pandemic: 5 key messages for people living with dementia
Resources in languages other than English
Alzheimer Nederland
Frequently asked questions on COVID-19 and dementia (in Dutch)
Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus vaccination (in Dutch)
France Alzheimer
Advice on measures to manage social isolation for people affected by dementia (in French)
Federazione Alzheimer Italia
10 recommendations for managing social isolation, for people living with dementia and their families (in Italian)
Austrian Dementia Strategy
Useful organisations and links (in German)
StimulusPro
App for cognitive stimulation (licence-free; in Spanish)
Information for caregivers and families
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland
Tips for supporting vulnerable adults in the community
At-home activities and apps for people with dementia
UK Alzheimer’s Society
Staying safe from coronavirus and reducing the risk of infection
COVID-19 symptoms in older people and people with dementia
Vaccines for coronavirus (COVID-19)
Understand Together Campaign (Alzheimer's Society of Ireland)
At Home Activities: suggestions for PWD, families and carers
Connecting people, connecting support (Alzheimer Scotland)
Resources and activities for living well with dementia
UK National Health Service (NHS)
Guide to dementia wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic: a resource for healthcare professionals, carers and people with dementia
Alzheimer’s Association
Tips for dementia caregivers
Dementia Services Information and Development Centre
Resources to help caregivers with social isolation
Dementia Carers Count
Virtual Carers Centre - resources to support family carers of people with dementia
Meri Yaadain - BAME Dementia
Leaflet on maintaining faith-based practices for a relative living with dementia during Ramadhan
World Health Organisation
iSupport resources for caregivers of people with dementia
Resources in languages other than English
France Alzheimer
Advice for carers and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic (in French)
Federazione Alzheimer Italia
10 recommendations for managing social isolation, for people living with dementia and their families (in Italian)
Alzheimer Uniti Italia
Videos with advice on managing social isolation from the Comunita Amichevole of Alzheimer Uniti Italia (in Italian)
Dutch Dementia Friends
Advice on how to support people affected by dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic (in Dutch)
- https://www.samendementievriendelijk.nl/nieuws/omgaan-met-mensen-met-dementie-in-tijden-van-covid-19
Slovenian Alzheimer’s Society
Tips for caregivers (in Sovenian)
Confederacion Espanola de Alzheimer (CEAFA)
Documents and infographics for the families of people with dementia (in Spanish)
Austrian Dementia Strategy
Useful organisations and links (in German)
Spanish Neurology Society
Advice for caregivers of people with dementia (in Spanish)
Information for minority ethnic groups
Public Health England guidance on social distancing
In Arabic
In Bengali
In Cantonese (traditional Chinese)
In French
In Gujarati
In Mandarin (simplified Chinese)
In Polish
In Portuguese
In Punjabi
In Urdu
In Welsh
Resources from the Turkish Alzheimer's Association (in Turkish)
Meri Yaadain CiC COVID-19 resources for BAME communities
National resources
We have collected resources on COVID-19 from different countries represented by our member organisations, which are listed below. Please click on the country of interest in the list below to navigate directly to it.
Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection:
Belgium
Belgian Government
Expertisecentrum Dementie Vlaanderen
Bosnia Herzegovina
Udruženje AiR
Bosnian Government
Croatia
Alzheimer Croatia
Government of the Republic of Croatia
Croatian Medical Association
Cyprus
Cyprus Ministry of Health
Czech Republic
Czech Republic Ministry of Public Health
Denmark
Alzheimerforeningen
- https://www.alzheimer.dk/nyheder/2020/saadan-forholder-du-dig-som-paaroerende-under-coronapandemien/
Danish Health Authority
Estonia
Estonian Government and Health Board
Finland
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
France
France Alzheimer
French Government
Germany
Deutsche Alzheimer Gesellschaft
German Ministry of Health
Greece
Greek Ministry of Health
Hungary
Hungarian Government
Iceland
Iceland Ministry of Health
Icelandic Directorate of Health COVID-19 information center
Ireland
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland
Irish Department of Health
Israel
Israeli Ministry of Health
Italy
Federazione Alzheimer Italia
Alzheimer Uniti Italia Onlus
Videos with advice on managing social isolation from the Comunita Amichevole of Alzheimer Uniti Italia (in Italian)
Ministry of Health
Interim guidance for the appropriate support of people with dementia in the current COVID-19 pandemic scenario (in Italian)
Jersey
Jersey Alzheimer’s Association
Information and Public Services for the Island of Jersey
Luxembourg
Luxembourg Health Ministry
Malta
Ministry for Health
Netherlands
Alzheimer Nederland
Government of the Netherlands
North Macedonia
Ministry of Health
Norway
Norwegian Directorate of Health
Poland
Government of Poland
Portugal
Alzheimer Portugal
Romania
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Slovakia
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic – Regional Public Health Authority
Slovenia
Spomincica
Ministry of Health
Spain
CEAFA
Fundación Alzheimer España
- http://www.alzfae.org/
- http://www.alzfae.org/fundacion/1149/circular-informativa-para-socios-pautas-y-recomendaciones-para-la-prevencion-de-contagio-por-covid-19
Spanish Ministry of Health
Sweden
Public Health Agency of Sweden
Switzerland
Swiss Federal Office of Public Health
Turkey
Turkish Alzheimer Society
Ministry of Health
- https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/tr/
United Kingdom – England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Alzheimer’s Society
UK Government
United Kingdom - Scotland
Alzheimer Scotland
Scottish Government
European Union resources
European Commission
European Parliament
European Council
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
COVID-19 situation updates, news, resources and reports
ECDC resources on COVID-19 vaccination
Re-open EU: information on measures in place in EU member states, including requirements for travellers
European Medicines Agency
Information on treatments and vaccines for COVID-19:
Responses by and resources from European Organisations (A-Z)
Age Platform Europe
Eurocarers
European Academy of Neurology
EANcore resource center on COVID-19
European Consumer Association - BEUC
Country-specific advice for consumer groups
European Disability Forum
Human Rights Report 2021: impact of COVID-19 on people with disabilities
European Geriatric Medicine Society
European Health Management Association
European Patients' Forum
European Psychiatric Association
Federation of European Academies of Medicine
Global resources
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Coronavirus resource platform
World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO COVID-19 Resource Centre
WHO, EU commission and health observatory COVID-19 health systems response monitor
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
COVID-19 outbreak readiness and response
My hero is you: storybook for children on COVID-19
United Nations (UN)
UN Resource Center
Policy Brief: the impact of COVID-19 on older persons
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
IMF COVID-19 Hub
IMF vaccines supply tracker
Policy responses to COVID-19: country tracker
Responses by and resources from International Organisations (A-Z)
Alzheimer's Association
Tips for dementia caregivers
Tips for dementia caregivers in long-term or community-based settings
Virtual and in-home activities for people with dementia, caregivers and others
Information about COVID-19 vaccination for people with dementia and their caregivers
Alzheimer's Disease International
Dementia Australia
Tips for people living with dementia
Tips for carers, families and friends of people living with dementia
International Disability Alliance
COVID-19 and the disability movement
touchNEUROLOGY COVID HUB
Scientific & clinical research resources
New England Journal of Medicine COVID-19 Resource Centre
The Lancet COVID-19 Resource Centre
International Long-Term Care Policy Network
BBMRI-ERIC: resources from European biobanks for research on COVID-19
COVID-19 statistics and trackers
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
World Health Organisation Coronavirus Disease Dashboard
Our World in Data Coronavirus data tracker
Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Interactive Map
COVID-19 and ethics
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for rationing of intensive care services due to resource scarcity, we have published a position statement on the triage of patients in the context of access to intensive care services. Our position statement can be found here:
- https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/policy/positions/allocation-medical-resources-intensive-care-services-during-covid-19-pandemic (English)
- https://alzheimer-bg.org/novini/alzheimer-europe-position-regarding-covid-19 (Bulgarian)
- http://www.alzheimer.cz/clanky/novinky-cals/stanovisko-ae-k-triazi/ (Czech)
International & European Organisations
Council of Europe
Committee on Bioethics (DH-BIO) COVID-19 webpage
Statement on Human Rights considerations relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic
Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law: webpage on the impact of COVID-19 on human rights and rule of law
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Fundamental Rights implications of COVID-19
European Organisation for Rare Diseases
Statement on critical care guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic
Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics
New England Journal of Medicine - Ethical perspectives
Fair allocation of scarce medical resources in the time of COVID-19 (EJ Ezekiel et al)
Nuffield Council of Bioethics
COVID-19 resources
World Health Organisation
Ethical standards for research during public health emergencies: distilling existing guidance to support COVID-19 R&D
Guidance for managing ethical issues in infectious disease outbreaks
- https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/250580
Addressing human rights as key to the COVID-19 response
World Medical Association
Statement on medical ethics in the event of disasters
National Organisations and Associations
Belgian Society of Intensive Care Medicine
Ethical principles concerning proportionality of critical care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
British Medical Association
Guidance note on COVID-19 ethical issues
Deutsche Ethikrat (Germany)
Solidarity and responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic
Comité Consultatif National d’Ethique (France)
Ethical reflections from the CCNE during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ethical reflections on COVID-19 vaccination from the CCNE
Espace Ethique Région Ile-de-France (France)
COVID-19 Observatory on Ethics and Society
Ethics and decision-making in the intensive care setting
Irish Department of Health (Ireland)
Ethical Framework for Decision-Making in a Pandemic
Commission Nationale d'Ethique (Luxembourg)
Position statement on ethical standards for referring patients in situations of limited clinical resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences
Guidance on triage for intensive care treatment under resource scarcity during the COVID-19 pandemic (available in english, french, german and italian)
Guidance on palliative care for elderly and frail patients during the COVID-19 pandemic (available in english, french, german and italian)
COVID-19 and intellectual disabilities
Inclusion Europe
COVID-19 resources
5 steps to prevent harm to people with intellectual disabilities and their families
National Down Syndrome Society (US)
COVID-19 resource center
COVID-19 resources for caregivers
Q&A on COVID-19 and Down Syndrome
National Task Force on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices
Q&A on COVID-19 and Down's Syndrome (abbreviated and long versions, in English and Spanish)
MENCAP
Information and resources on COVID-19
COVID-19 and mental health
World Health Organisation
Interim Briefing Note Addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Aspects of COVID-19 Outbreak (by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support)
Mental health and Psychosocial Considerations During COVID-19 Outbreak
#HealthyAtHome campaign - mental health tips and advice
United Nations
Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health
Public Health England
Guidance on mental health & wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic
European Psychiatric Association
COVID-19 Resource Center
UK National Health Service (NHS)
Every mind matters campaign: 10 tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus
Madrid College of Psychologists
COVID-19 mental health resources (in spanish)
Fingerprint for success
Remote work burnout: stats and solutions