Support for ultra-orthodox Jews

The ultra-orthodox Jewish community. In the past dementia was considered a mental illness, especially in the case of early onset dementia, and sometimes interfered with the chances of a good marriage arrangement. The ultra-orthodox Jews highly value mental abilities and any cognitive decline might reduce the family’s honour. EMDA, together with an ultra-orthodox care service and rabbis from the community, has succeeded in changing attitudes and improving awareness and knowledge of dementia. Primary care is mostly done by women but men take responsibility for some of the care of Jewish men. Families have been more open recently to hiring 24-hour care. There are now also day care centres for members of the ultra-orthodox Jewish community and some nursing homes. The ultra-orthodox Jewish community highly values doing good deeds such as visiting the sick and older people. The Activities for Health project has been very successful in encouraging volunteers to help out in people's homes. The volunteers are all women and they train the daughters within the families in care issues (because female volunteers cannot care for men). EMDA has separate support groups in the ultra-orthodox communities.