ADI's 18th annual conference
2002 Conference
Dementia: Meeting the Challenge Together
ADI showcase - Mexico's stand
Representatives from 68 countries gathered in Barcelona to meet the global challenge of dementia at ADI's 18th annual international conference in October. Hosted by the Confederacion Espanola de Familiares de Enfermos de Alzheimer y otras demencias (CEAFA), ADI's member in Spain, and the Conferencia Nacional Alzheimer (CNA), a group of Spanish neurologists, the conference attracted 2100 delegates.
The conference provided a unique opportunity for people with dementia, staff and volunteers of Alzheimer's associations, carers, scientists and researchers to come together to share and learn with one another. The need to be more inclusive of people with dementia gained further ground at the conference. Peter Ashley, who has dementia with lewy bodies, spoke about "living with dementia, not dying from it" at the opening plenary session. Workshops facilitated by people with dementia explored how Alzheimer's associations can be more inclusive of people with dementia.
Quality of life, music therapy, latest scientific advances, and environment, design and architecture in dementia were just a few of the diverse topics featured in the three-day programme. ADI organised a number of events including the showcase and several workshops. The showcase gave delegates the chance to learn about the work of Alzheimer associations from all around the world. The ADI workshops were designed to strengthen the organisational capacity of Alzheimer's associations and encourage them to share best practice. Topics included people with intellectual disabilities (The Edinburgh Principles), working with pharmaceutical companies and planning dementia services.
Chairman's reception
In addition, delegates were updated on the work of ADI's 10/66 Dementia Research Group. Martin Prince, 10/66 co-ordinator, shared the Group's population based survey findings and outlined the kinds of services needed in the developing world for the estimated 12 million people with dementia in Latin America, Asia and Africa. This plenary session was followed up by a workshop examining how people working in the dementia field can effectively use the media to raise awareness about dementia and influence policy makers.
The social highlight of the conference was the gala dinner, which was set in a recently refurbished railway station. Catalan cuisine and live music were the perfect recipe for a great atmosphere where delegates danced the night away.
It was the combination of a distinct conference programme and lively social events which meant that delegates left Barcelona with new friends and a sense of global solidarity.
Where next?
- What delegates said about the conference & conference presentations
- Future Conferences
- 2001 Conference report
