Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Social Center

Summary

In 2017, Kadıköy Municipality initiated an integrated service model through its newly established Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Social Center in Kadıköy where 65+ comprises 19% of the total population. The aim of this center is to maintain the quality of life of the patients after the diagnosis, to establish an appropriate environment where patients feel safe and enable them to re-socialize, and to continue enjoying activities through mental stimulations which contribute the protection of brain functions.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common types of dementia. Alzheimer’s patients may have difficulty in their daily functions and need special care. However, relatives of Alzheimer’s patients may have psychological and mental difficulties and need support due to being responsible for caring. This twofold need within the society encouraged Kadıköy Municipality to take action. Being unique and the first in Turkey, the Center combines the formerly mentioned needs in one complex, provides appropriate services for both patients and their relatives at the same time and under the same roof, and facilitates social integration and active ageing of patients, their relatives as well as the elderly:

Center for Alzheimer’s Disease: Primary objective is to delay the progression of the disease and improve the social functionality of the individual by making patients enjoy their daily routine and through mental rehabilitation activities. Meanwhile, trainings, socio-cultural activities and psychological support and wellbeing programmes are provided for the relatives of the patients.

The Social Center: Institutionalized in the same location, the Center is an active ageing center providing the opportunity for 65+ to socialize by coming together with their peers as well as the opportunity for the relatives of Alzheimer’s disease patients who are distanced from social life due to their caring responsibilities; protecting them from isolation and loneliness and maintaining their productivity.

Website: http://alzheimermerkezi.kadikoy.bel.tr/

Key facts

Main target group: Older people in general

Other target group(s): Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Sector(s): Health, Social protection

Desired outcome for older people:
Build and maintain relationships

Other issues the Age-friendly practice aims to address:

Ageism
Dementia
Inclusion

Contact details

Name: Müşerref ÖZKAN ÇUHADAR

Email address: disiliskiler@kadikoy.bel.tr

Age-friendly practice in detail (click to expand):

Engaging the wider community

Project lead: Local authorities

Others involved in the project:

Civil Society Organisation

How collaboration worked: The training programmes entitled as “Problems and Solutions in Caregivers in Alzheimer’s Disease”, “Support Group Programme for Relatives of the Patients” and “What is Dementia and Alzheimer: Diagnosis and Treatment” have been developed and implemented in collaboration with Turkish Alzheimer’s Association. Besides, scientific studies have been initiated in collaboration with universities. A new study which is to be carried out in collaboration with Okan University and Maltepe University, is entitled as “Research on the The Positive Effect of Physical Activity on the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease” and the research will be made in compliance with the ethical requirements and on the basis of the consent of the relatives of the Alzheimer’s patients.

Older people’s involvement: Older people were not directly involved

Details on older people’s involvement: Views and suggestions of the relatives of the patients are collected through questionnaires and the programmes are developed according to the needs of relatives of the patients. In fact, understanding the relationship type between the relatives and the Alzheimer’s patients prior to the disease is decisive for the future of the relationship to be developed with patients. This fact puts the feedback of the relatives of the Alzheimer’s patients into quite an important position.

Moving forward

Has the impact of this age-friendly practice been analysed: Yes

Was the impact positive or negative:
Positive

Looking back

Reflections:
The need versus capacity of the Center for Alzheimer’s Disease was underestimated. If Kadıköy Municipality had the chance to establish the Center again, we would make it with a greater capacity in terms of the size of the building and the number of staff. The demand is generally higher than the capacity of the Center. For instance, the number of applications was 240 in 2017 when the center was newly put into service, but unfortunately we were only able to accept 80 of them.

Challenges:
The major challenge was to ensure the adaptation of patients with Alzheimer’s Disease because a characteristic of the disease can be difficulty in getting used to a new environment. In general, the rate of success within the patient group is 90% with the remaining 10% leaving the Center due to difficulties integrating. In addition to observations of the staff and feedback from relatives of the patients, as well as the willingness of the patients to continue to attend the activities of the Center, preliminary and final Montreal Cognitive Assessments are the major tools to indicate the rate of success. The integration and adaptation challenges have been overcome through love and care. Due to Alzheimer’s disease, it is hard to add new memories, but emotions are always remembered and the Center creates positive emotions in the patients.