Alzheimer's: this Var municipality is committed to better supporting patients and caregivers

The municipality has just committed to becoming an "Alzheimer's Supporting City" alongside the France Alzheimer association, with which it has collaborated for many years. A charter was signed the other day at the town hall by the mayor, Yves Palmieri, in the presence of Virginie Corporandy-Viallon, deputy for social action, and Arlette Marrone, president of the France Alzheimer Var association, accompanied by Anne Marie Mompo, treasurer and member of the board of directors of the Communal Center for Social Action (CCAS), and an administrative volunteer, Geneviève Avon. The charter "perpetuates, as the mayor pointed out, this existing partnership with Var volunteers within the city" (memory workshops, sophrology, listening and information point, presence at the associations' forum, etc.).

Informing and training family caregivers

Structured around "three major axes: orientation, inclusion, and awareness" , the charter aims "to better support people suffering from Alzheimer's disease or a related illness within the city, and their close caregivers."

The city's commitments are structured around eight areas: providing information on Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, particularly to users, on the association's free training for caregivers, facilitating the establishment of memory cafes or actions initiated by France Alzheimer, or facilitating transport arrangements from home to the location of activities within a radius defined by the town hall, or setting up visual or audio orientation markers to facilitate the autonomy of sick people in public places.

"We are a bridge, a link between the medical and social sectors ," explains Arlette Marrone, president of France Alzheimer Var since 2006. "Our knowledge and experience have allowed us to better understand and learn, and have also given us the desire to help others, families."

And this by supporting them and offering them suitable activities (cultural outing, cognitive mobilization workshop, sports activities, etc.). (1)

"A white mourning"

"With the aging of the population, and in particular the loneliness of seniors, this problem is tending to increase in volume ," acknowledged the mayor. "We have a societal problem that is indeed a Himalaya in the medical, paramedical and medico-social fields. We need resources in terms of human support and research. We cannot let our fellow citizens face this tragedy. For the sick person and for those around them, it is an obstacle course. Caregivers are faced with major difficulties."

"Psychologically, it's very hard. We're still talking about a white mourning," recalls Anne-Marie Mompo, a former nurse who has been involved with the association for fifteen years.

"We must relearn how to love the person as they become," adds Arlette Marrone. "And manage to no longer be in denial," adds Anne-Marie Mompo. To "face these situations," as the mayor reminds us, the France Alzheimer Var association and the city will continue to work hand in hand.

1. France Alzheimer Var. Contact: Tel. 04 94 09 30 30. contact83@france alzheimer.org