Weekly developments surrounding dementia in Ilm County, within the broader context of the current year's events
The Ilm District is gearing up to become a dementia-friendly district, starting with the "Week of Dementia" action in September. This week-long event invites people to explore dementia from new perspectives and discover practical approaches to dealing with the disease and its challenges.
Highlights of the week include an expert conference titled "People with dementia in our midst", which will kick off the action on September 19 at 10 am in the Parkcafé Ilmenau. Registration for the conference day is possible until September 10th, 2025, via email to Christiane Herrmann ([email protected]).
County Commissioner Petra Enders will present the project "Dementia-friendly Ilm District" during the conference. Gerontologist Anja Schollmeyer will give a specialist lecture on the contents of the exhibition and how to foster a supportive relationship with people with dementia on September 25 at 11 AM.
On September 23 at 4 pm, Schollmeyer will also give a lecture titled "What remains!" at the Women's & Family Center in Großbreitenbach. The traveling exhibition "Understand Me! Dementia is Normal" will open in the foyer of the Ilm district clinics in Arnstadt on September 25 at 9 AM.
The week will also feature a hands-on workshop titled "Strengthening Caregiving - Salutogenesis and Resilience for Self-Care", led by Anja Schollmeyer, which aims to teach caregivers how to strengthen their health and resilience through everyday exercises to better cope with the challenges of caregiving. The workshop will take place on September 26 at 12:30 PM at the Ilm district administration building in Arnstadt.
In addition to these events, the week will also screen the documentary "Forget Me Not!" by David Sieveking at the Theater Arnstadt on September 24 at 5 PM, followed by a conversation with the audience. The week will culminate with a musical reading at the Ilmenau Music School on September 22 at 7 pm, featuring author André Kudernatsch reading from his book "Das kannst du voll vergessen! Ein Demenz-Report", sharing his experiences with his father's dementia.
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Attendance at the conference day and lectures during the Week of Dementia can be certified as continuing education. The long-term plans for making Ilm District a dementia-friendly district likely involve building inclusive communities that raise awareness, reduce stigma, educate the public, train service providers, and improve social interaction and support for people with dementia and their caregivers. While there is no specific detailed plan found for Ilm District in the search results, similar dementia-friendly initiatives elsewhere include organizing community engagement programs, support groups, training and education sessions, and collaboration with local organizations.
Events and projects typically incorporate regular dementia cafés and support groups, educational sessions and training workshops for community members and service providers, community assessments and action plans for age- and dementia-friendly development, programs to reduce social isolation via art, transport, or volunteer networks, and caregiver peer support and navigation resources. Although specific details about the Ilm District’s plans were not in the search results, these types of initiatives and activities represent best practices used internationally to build dementia-friendly districts and could be relevant or adapted to the Ilm District context. To get the most accurate and region-specific information, contacting local health or senior services in the Ilm District, or community organizations working on dementia awareness, would be advisable.
During the "Week of Dementia", Prof. Dr. Kathrin Finke will present the memory clinic of the University Hospital Jena, and Mareike Köhler will present the "Tovertafel", an interactive light projection game system. These presentations offer valuable insights into the latest research and technologies being used to support people with dementia.
In conclusion, the Ilm District's "Week of Dementia" promises to be an enlightening and informative event, offering a wide range of activities and lectures aimed at building a more dementia-friendly community. Whether you are a caregiver, a healthcare professional, or simply someone interested in learning more about dementia, there is something for everyone at this week-long event.
- The Ilm District's initiative to become a dementia-friendly district encompasses various aspects of health and wellness, including mental health and neurological disorders.
- During the Week of Dementia, experts will discuss medical-conditions related to dementia in the conference, and attendees can learn practical methods to deal with these conditions and improve their support for people with dementia.
- The Ilm District's plans for making the district dementia-friendly may involve organizing support groups, educational sessions, and collaboration with local organizations to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and improve social interaction for people with dementia and their caregivers.
