AFAL Asociación Nacional del Alzheimer

This program began in 1997 and it basically consists of fortnightly meetings between relatives of Alzheimerï¿½s sufferers where they offer each other support in order to cope better with the disease.

Meetings take place in the health centres of those Sanitary Areas that have enabled the existence of this activity. At present there are 15 groups who carry out their meetings in these centres. The scope of this activity is the city of Madrid, and our intention is to extend it across the whole of the city.

The objectives of this program are:

to exchange ï¿½caring tipsï¿½ and experiences
to meet people living a similar situation
to support each other emotionally
to carry out small favours for each other depending on the vicinity of each otherï¿½s homes
to participate in relaxing culture and leisure activities

The objectives of these groups are determined by the interests of their members at different times. They also receive visits by diverse socio-sanitary professionals, who, by petition of the group, assist some meetings to offer advice in their area of expertise.

Organisation is simple: there is a Coordinator, who, without any specific training, oversees the sessions in order to facilitate the participation of all those present and acts as an external spokesman for the group.

The duration of the sessions is of 90 minutes and is used to ï¿½workï¿½ on all those matters of concern to the participants, always respecting total freedom of expression of thoughts and emotions.

For more information contact GAMAï¿½s General Coordinator, Luis Redondo (Social Worker)

AFAL. ASOCIACIï¿½N NACIONAL DEL ALZHEIMER