Many people with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia are still ashamed to actually report to an Alzheimer Café. “This is of course not necessary. We try to make the Alzheimer Cafés as accessible and accessible as possible by appointing regular faces as discussion leaders and scheduling regular volunteers. This provides guidance for visitors and their loved ones. There is always a central theme and there are experienced experts present. But that is something that does require some work. This means that we need approximately seven volunteers for an Alzheimer Café. A speaker, moderator, hostesses and hosts. The volunteers of Alzheimer Nederland have all received training from Samen Dementievrienden from Alzheimer Nederland. Visitors need our undivided and expert attention. You can also really see that contact with fellow sufferers does a lot of good. Both people with dementia and their caregivers feel that they are not alone.”
Make a difference with help in the Alzheimer Café
More understanding
Openness about dementia creates more understanding. “There are 50 different types of dementia. Little is actually known to the general public about Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. That makes the (incipient) condition so difficult to recognize. For example, someone may have suddenly forgotten their PIN code at the cash register; this could be a sign of dementia. Or someone becomes very angry or grumpy out of nowhere, even though there is no immediate reason for it. If (incipient) Alzheimer’s is detected earlier, it can also be responded to better, for example by responding patiently instead of emotionally.”
Faces of dementia
To bring dementia to the attention of a larger audience, the exhibition ‘Faces of dementia’ was held last year. In the Zaanstreek-Waterland region, people could visit the exhibition in the library in Zaandam and in Volendam in the Stolphoevekerkje. “The exhibitions and the two theme evenings were well attended and were very successful. It is a very beautiful project by artist Herman Hoogdalem and Gijs Wanders, former journalist and filmmaker. They are both experts by experience. The ‘Faces of Dementia’ project started with a tribute to the mother of Herman van Hoogdalem who died from the effects of dementia. He made a large watercolor of his mother measuring two meters by two meters twenty. Gijs Wanders’ father is also portrayed in a large format. And then many people with dementia followed. The watercolors are accompanied by short films with commentary from the family members of the people portrayed.” The exhibition makes dementia visible in society. Hoogdalem said about this: “I try to show the many faces of this process: the despair, the suffering, the uncertainty, the pain, the silence, the emptiness, the detachment, the resignation and what cannot be captured in words. Compelling, honest, sometimes painful but always with integrity.”
“It would be great if we could bring this beautiful exhibition and both theme evenings again, now in the Beemster and Monnickendam. However, this does involve additional costs, such as the rental of the exhibition space, travel costs, costs of transporting the works of art, you name it. Unfortunately, there is not just any money available that we can use for this purpose. Regional sponsors Those who care about Alzheimer Netherlands and in particular this project are asked to contact Mieke Hollander.
Additional board members
Zaanstreek-Waterland department of Alzheimer Nederland has even more ambitious plans for next year. “In addition to the successful Alzheimer Cafés in De Rusthoeve in Purmerend, the Bovenkruier- ‘t Kalf and Pennemes in Zaanstad and in Culicafé De Ontmoeting in Edam-Volendam, we as the board of Zaanstreek Waterland want to open even more Alzheimer Cafés. Why? Such a café must literally be close by and accessible. It is a challenge with few volunteers, but we have also managed to expand the cafes over the past two years. The cafes are well visited. This also reflects our collaboration with partners such as SMD and Welzijn Wonen Plus. We believe our network is important, because together we can move forward. The board consisting of Wilma Spijkers, Janneke Amstel van Leijden and I could use additional members. We now wish to set up an Alzheimer Café in the Beemster, Landsmeer and Oostzaan. The first café is planned for December 11 in Monnickendam. To do this, we need help from additional volunteers, both on the board and on the floor of the cafes. It is wonderful to be able to volunteer for this beautiful foundation,” says Hollander. “I started as a volunteer chairman two years ago because I want to spend part of my free time – due to pension – in a socially meaningful way. Moreover, my mother unfortunately died with Alzheimer’s, so as an expert I know the impact on the family. I would like to appeal to people who have some extra time left and who, like me and the rest of the volunteers from Alzheimer Nederland, want to dedicate themselves to people with dementia and their loved ones.”
2023-11-30 09:34:00
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