engleski

How to live longer well with Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is pretty common today among elderly. Almost one third of people in future will be concerned old, and the age is the most common risk for developing dementia, e.g. Alzheimers. Today the society is aware of neurocognitive disorders and people are diagnosed much earlier than before. So, while persons are diagnosed earlier they also spend more years with the fact that they have Alzheimer’s disease. For sure, if the people with dementia (PwD) do not have post- diagnostic support their life will not be easy. Modern management of dementia considered multi- professional approach involving also non- pharmacological treatment. Of course, PwD need standard treatment with antidementives, but various individually tailored therapies like art, music, dance, pat, occupational etc. therapies are essential. For PwD the best thing is that they remain at work and at home as long as possible. That means that they will need adequate understanding and support in their surroundings to be capable to act in this setting. Among every family, if possible, the unformal caregiver should be recognised and this person should be trained and advised. This can be done in academic or NGO settings. Also, family doctors should advice carers to think about themselves due to avoid burn-out syndrome, and to protect their health. When the stage of dementia progresses PwD would be advised to attend the Day care centre. Nursing home should be considered for PwD with advanced dementia, if palliative mobile teams are not available. All these strategies should be planed and available in different parts of country and this is only possible if the national action plan/strategy to fight dementia exists and is implemented. In Croatia, we are still lacking such kind of officinal state plan although there is an initiative of Croatian Alzheimer Alliance (HAA) for several years ago. HAA has now 31 members, e.g. different societies or NGOs who are working for better life of PwD and supporting the need of developing national dementia strategy. A lot of dementia friendly activities have already been developed in Croatia, but this is still the beginning. Much more can be done in the future for better life of PwD and their families.

Alzheimer's disease ; dementia ; people ; Croatian Alzheimer Alliance ; Croatia

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