Commission provides funding for projects on Alzheimer's disease

In anticipation of 'World Alzheimer Day' on 21 September 1995, and in line with the wishes of the European Parliament, Social Affairs Commissioner, Padraig Flynn, has announced the allocation of over ECU 1 million to a series of initiatives aimed at helping people with Alzheim...

In anticipation of 'World Alzheimer Day' on 21 September 1995, and in line with the wishes of the European Parliament, Social Affairs Commissioner, Padraig Flynn, has announced the allocation of over ECU 1 million to a series of initiatives aimed at helping people with Alzheimer's Disease and their carers.

The initiatives selected for funding aim at raising awareness of the disease and promoting best practice in coping with its effects. All the initiatives selected for funding are transnational and all are practice-based. They include the following specific projects:

- The European Alzheimer Clearing House, which will provide information and support to dementia caregivers throughout the European Union (Coordinator: EACH, Belgium);

- Assessment of best practice in Alzheimer diagnostic centres in eleven countries (Coordinator: SFG, France);

- Training programme for carers in four countries (Coordinator: FAASE, France);

- Identification and dissemination of best practice in the field of training and supporting carers of people with Alzheimer's Disease in five Member States (Coordinator: Overpaarne, Netherlands);

- Development of a model for a 24-hour telephone helpline for carers of people with Alzheimers (Coordinator: Alzheimer Europe, Netherlands);

- Awareness-raising activities on aspects of Alzheimer's Disease in six Member States (Coordinator: 'Dailylife', France);

- Development of 'care manuals' to help family members and carers of people with Alzheimer's Disease (Coordinator: Augustus Foundation, Netherlands).

Commissioner Flynn expressed his particular satisfaction with the practical orientation of the initiatives, commenting that "Carers, especially family carers, of people with Alzheimer's Disease are in an extremely vulnerable position. These initiatives have been chosen because of their potential to be of direct help to carers as well as to those who have the disease".