AFAL. ASOCIACI�N NACIONAL DEL ALZHEIMER

Young Alzheimer’s sufferers are confronted with an even more daunting prospect, for the prognosis of their illness is that it will make a faster progress toward deterioration. Moreover, they are still young enough to be working, have young sons and daughters and spouses who must abruptly assume all family-related responsibilities.

This subgroup of young sufferers, who make up an estimated 10% of dementia sufferers, require a different kind of intervention than older sufferers.

AFALcontigo has developed an experimental program through which we intend to adapt non-pharmacological treatments to moderate-initial phase dementia sufferers under the age of 65. We use psychomotricity techniques, music therapy and occupational therapy with the objective of exercising those cognitive functions as well as motor abilities which have been preserved.

The Objectives 

• To promote an adapted and gratifying sports activity in a sociable environment.
• To stimulate physical and cognitive aptitudes that without intervention would be lost more rapidly.
• To prevent symptoms such as anxiety, depression, anguish, solitude, insomnia, irritability, etc.
• To improve the quality of living of young Alzheimer’s sufferers, their relatives and their care givers.

The Intervention

• Physical stimulation: warming-up exercises, cardiovascular/muscular exercises and stretching by practicing different sports (football, basketball, handball, volleyball, athletics…) 
• Cognitive stimulation: exercises for different cognitive areas (praxis, Gnostic area) through different cognitive stimulation disciplines (psychomotricity, music therapy, occupational therapy) 
• Psycho-social stimulation: relaxation exercises, competitiveness, motivation and group interaction.

The Groups

An evaluation of the level of cognitive deterioration, the psychomotor capacity and the sports history of the sufferer is carried out in order to create homogenous groups of 10 people. The intervention is administered by two psychologists and one occupational therapist in sports facilities. Moreover, there is a support and therapy group for the primary care givers.

Signing up

It is important to keep in mind that this intervention program is experimental and that therefore it is capable of covering only a small number of cases. Nevertheless, all those who are interested can contact the Association in order to arrange an appointment with our social workers. They will carry out an interview and, after considering all the applications, will offer the best alternatives.

Our new �Occupational Therapy� activity is directed to sufferers in the moderate stage of the disease. This activity has risen from the needs that arise in carers and relatives when confronted with the imminent advancement of the illness. During this time the sufferer loses his or her autonomy, managing to carry out only certain minimal day-to-day activities and needing constant supervision. When confronted with this situation, very often caring relatives consider soliciting a place in a Day Centre.

While they wait to be assigned a place, the relative carers can bring their sufferers to participate in our groups twice a week. Meanwhile, we meet weekly with the relative carers (Thursdays) and do our best to help them deal with the feelings of guilt and emotional instability that checking their relative sufferers into a care centre may cause them.

OBJECTIVES

• To maintain and increase the sufferer�s preserved abilities, with the intention of maximising functioning in everyday activities.
• To activate and entertain his or her senses by means of different therapeutic activities: Crafts, Psychomotricity, Recreational and stimulation activities, Music and Relaxation. The objective of these activities is to work with emotional and motivational components, which are the fundamental starting points of any activity. 
• To provide an introduction or a social preparation of sorts to the sufferer for a better future adaptation in the Day Centre, by working with groups as well as organising day trips.

METHOD

Groups contain 8 sufferers at most, in order to maximise the quality of individual intervention and the achievement of the aforementioned objectives. 

The program is overseen by a qualified psychologist and sessions are carried out by a qualified occupational therapist with recognised experience in the field of Day Centres and Old Persons� Homes.

HOW THE ACTIVITY IS CONDUCTED 

Twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the morning. Sessions are one hour and a half long.

Contact: Virgnia Silva, [email protected]