ROMA – Today, in all of Europe, there are about 16.8 million elderly migrants but the phenomenon of dementia and cognitive disorders in the migrant population has not yet been thoroughly investigated despite the fact that there are about 500 thousand cases of dementia and 6-700 thousand cases of mild cognitive disorders (but the hidden population could considerably increase the extent of the phenomenon). This is why the project was born Immediatelycoordinated by theHigher Institute of Health (ISS) and funded by the Ministry of Health: a pioneering initiative.
Cognitive disorders among migrants. In Italy, it is estimated that there are approximately 50 thousand cases that require an adequate and culturally sensitive health response. There are two main causes, both socio-demographic: the progressive aging of the population and the increase in migratory flows. The project Immediatelynow in its fourth year, offers free courses aimed at healthcare institution staff to provide practical tools and spread a culturally informed and guided approach.
The virtuous model of Modena. The Modena CDCD (Cognitive Disorders and Dementia Center) operates within a territorial operational unit that covers the entire province, including seven centers for cognitive disorders. All health personnel have participated in the Project’s training courses Immediately organized by the ISS, with excellent results, also raising awareness among pharmacists and shopkeepers in supporting people with dementia in their daily lives.
The Dementia Friendly Community. Among the initiatives of the Modena CDC, training in the Dementia-Friendly Communities, to ensure that people with dementia can live in a safe and inclusive way, interacting with a community that is prepared and aware of their needs. The local population has in fact been involved in training and awareness courses.
The gyms of memory. Aimed at the over 70s, they are a sustainable and community project that takes place in weekly groups for cognitive exercises, managed by volunteers trained by the Modena Local Health Authority. The key is to distinguish physiological aging from pathological aging and neurodegenerative diseases, through neuropsychological tests that take into account ethnic and cultural factors. The problem is that many tests were developed in Western contexts and may be inadequate for cross-cultural assessment.
Looking for the most suitable tests. As part of the project Immediatelythe Center for the Treatment and Study of Cognitive Disorders at Luigi Sacco Hospital has translated and validated the most suitable diagnostic tools for migrants with cognitive disorders, focusing on those least influenced by cultural factors such as ethnicity, language, education and literacy. Among these,?the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS)which is part of the European version of the Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB) to measure general cognitive functioning.
Future goals. The Modena Local Health Authority, in order to reach as many people as possible, has created a multidisciplinary working group with geriatricians, neuropsychologists, psychologists, occupational therapists and nurses. The goal is to develop a protocol to address the specificities of dementia in foreign communities, translating information material into multiple languages and seeking funding to involve cultural mediators, a key figure in the system.?
A replicable virtuous model. The multicultural model of the Modena Local Health Authority can be replicated in other settings to significantly improve care for migrant patients with cognitive disorders: continuous training, collaboration with cultural mediators and direct involvement of foreign communities.
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– 2024-08-19 21:55:10
