Alzheimer Friesland sounds the alarm: Interest group urgently looking for leaders

SNEEK – The Friesland region of Alzheimer Netherlands is sounding the alarm. The regional department, which works to improve the quality of life for people with dementia, will soon be without a board.

Joure’s Wiebe van der Hoogt, member of the application board and vice-chairman of the Friesland region, recently posted up to seven vacancies on the site of Alzheimer Nederland, the national umbrella organization. The vacancies are now also posted on the Alzheimer Friesland Facebook page.

In addition to Van der Hoogt, the current board consists of chairperson Sieta Miedema from Drachten, Albert Scheffer from Drachten (Information/Training Dementia-friendly) and Grietje Albada from Ureterp, board member Alzheimer Cafés. We have been looking for a secretary and treasurer for some time, but now vacancies have been posted for an Alzheimercafés/Jungheimercafés board member. In addition, it is desirable that the board is expanded with board members for Advocacy, PR/Communication and Projects.

Smile

That’s quite a list already, but on top of that, both Sieta Miedema and Wiebe van der Hoogt will leave the board next autumn as their terms are up. ‘There are usually enough volunteers for the various tasks, but in general it is difficult to find people for board positions. said Miedema.

The four current members joined the department after facing depression in their environment. “People who have experienced this first hand know how much and how heavy that care can be. But often they have also experienced how the attention of that care can make it more bearable and how necessary it is for things to change.’said Miedema.

Problem growing

The local government sees it as its main task to make everyday life easier for people with dementia and their loved ones. This can be done mainly by ensuring that society becomes more dementia friendly, Miedema explains. such as learning to recognize and understand behavior and deal with it in the right way. We are committed to this with passionate volunteers. We organize various activities for people with dementia and represent their interests with the province, municipalities, companies and associations. It is important that people are aware that dementia is a growing problem.’

Fryslân currently has 13,000 people with dementia, but that number is expected to grow to 21,000 by 2040. Nationally, this means more than half a million people, as expected. This will be a big challenge for healthcare, but also for society as a whole, says Alzheimer Netherlands. The umbrella group has therefore drawn up a five-point action plan to improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their informal carers. At the same time, these five points should also ensure more ‘low care years’.

This can be done, for example, by permanently providing meeting places, community centers or living rooms, with activities that are in line with what people with dementia can still do. The meeting place enables communication and exchange of information, offers structure in the week, a central place in the community and prevents isolation. This will also ensure that people are less likely to need intensive care and can continue to live comfortably in the community they know for longer.

Care nearby

Building suitable homes for people with dementia is high on the Alzheimer’s agenda in the Netherlands. It is important that people with dementia and their loved ones can live comfortably at home for as long as possible, with care or support nearby if necessary. A dementia friendly environment is very important for this.

Sieta Myedema: ‘Staying at home as long as possible if you have depression, in a familiar environment with family and friends around you. That is what we are working on in Friesland, together with the province, municipalities and welfare organizations. We need each other to help the growing number of people with dementia.’

Alzheimer Nederland is working towards a future without dementia, including by providing financial support for scientific research into the disease. As long as a cure is not yet possible, a better quality of life for people with dementia and the environment remains the main goal.

For more information, interested parties can contact Wiebe van der Hoogt, email [email protected] by phone through 06-21562965.

More information about the Alzheimer’s department Nederland Friesland and the vacancies can be found at www.alzheimer-nederland.nl/regios/friesland.