World Alzheimer's Day™ 2004

Summary of events

Alzheimer's Disease International

Hosted a reception at the House of Commons. Attendees included people with dementia and carers, ambassadors and high commissioners from member countries, media, representatives from member countries, medical professionals, policy makers, friends and supporters of ADI.

ADI wrote to health ministers in the 192 WHO member states urging them to make dementia a higher healthcare priority.

Elizabeth Rimmer was interviewed by 13 radio stations.

Argentina

Held a family day out with Memory Walk, soccer games and dancing

Armenia

Organised a two-day conference where over 400 participated including officials of Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Affairs, physicians, caregivers, relatives of people with dementia, local and foreign students of Yerevan State Medical University. The conference was broadcast on two national TV channels for the entire day and received coverage in two national newspapers - including the Voice of Armenia (one of most popular newspapers in Armenia).

Aruba

Week of awareness raising commenced with official Mass with Governor of Aruba and the Ministers of Health and Social department of the Government were presented with the association's first official folder

Australia

World Alzheimer's Day falls in the middle of Australia's national Dementia Awareness week, which this year was marked by:

A series of state-based activities including memory walks; open days; shopping centre displays; opening of a library at one of our state associations; screening of the Oscar-winning animated film Harvie Krumpet (attended by the film's creator and the federal Minister for Aged Care).
A national mail-out to more than 4,000 libraries, aged care facilities and community health centres providing information about Dementia Awareness Week and requesting their support to publicise DAW and how to find out more about dementia. Some states also arranged direct mail campaigns in their own regions to coincide with DAW.
Distribution of nationally consistent support materials through all Alzheimer's Australia state and territory associations. These included flyers; A4 and A3 posters (with tear-off tabs for people who want more information About Alzheimer's Australia or dementia); and a colourful sticker in a range of sizes to customise existing and DAW-specific materials, to wear on memory walks, to put on letters and envelopes etc.
A national speaking tour for the public, carers and health professionals by our visiting international expert, US Professor Zaven Khachaturian
A private fundraising lunch and breakfast with leading corporate executives and high-net worth individuals in Sydney and Melbourne

A two-strand media campaign, focusing on community awareness of dementia (for regional and local media) and a higher-level political strand for national media, which used as its centrepiece an Alzheimer's Australia-commissioned report that shows the potential impact of delaying the onset of dementia.

Austria

Held their first Memory Walk

Belgium

Organised a Memory Walk/family day, a free open day for the public called 'Dementia - what is new?'

Brazil

Day observed 25 centres throughout country and received extensive national, regional and local media coverage. Events included Memory Walks, carer training sessions, seminars, teas, launch of 3 sub-chapters, film screenings, visits to state and municipal health secretaries, street leafleting campaigns, seminars and gatherings in parks.

Canada

Hosted No time to lose Coffee Breaks throughout Canada

Chile

Organised the following events:

press breakfast at Sheraton Hotel, Santiago, with 2 TV channels and 2 most important newspapers - resulted in 8 newspaper articles, 5 radio interviews
scientific and social activity with about 80 persons including authorities and journalists
conference for the general public with participation of 200 people in Santiago (conference was repeated as demand to attend was so high).
several public awareness activities held in Concepción
scientific conference held for students, family carers and general public in Los Angeles

Cuba

Launched a dementia care home, held a Memory Walk with over 700 people, a scientific symposium in the afternoon and workshops

Dominican Republic

Held an afternoon of remembering the 1950's

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Branches of the Alzheimer's Society hosted Memory Walks throughout 70 locations

Ecuador

Organised a social gathering in which people with dementia, families, carers, medical professionals and media participated.

Egypt

Hosted a one day convention for people with dementia, carers, professionals and the public

El Salvador

Organised 10th national symposium 'No time to lose' and received national TV, radio and print coverage including a special report on No time to lose on national TV channels

Finland

35 chapters participated and organised activities including lectures, seminars, concerts and social evenings.

Germany

Hosted press conference in Berlin with the participation of Ulla Schmidt, Minister for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth and the association's patron Mr. Jürgen, a very well known TV presenter and priest. Hosted 'No time to lose' national conference. Distributed 5000 leaflets in pharmacies across Germany.

Greece

Organised events in 6 different cities (Thessaloniki, Athens, Volos, Kalamaria, Thermi, Stavroupolis) and prepared a showcase in the centre of Thessaloniki and Athens

Guatemala

Organised a walk with 500 people, mass, conference and special family day organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports in which 800 people participated.

Hong Kong SAR

Held a Memory Walk and charity concert, and volunteer festival at Chinese university

Hungary

Nationwide Awareness Campaign in 36 cities/towns (Tesco supermarkets) with participation of psychiatrists and neurologists, publications; press conference; and classical music concert at Budapest's main concert hall.

India

Observed in 1000 centres throughout India. Highlights included:

Holland to Himalaya car rally, reaching Cochin on 21st September
Launch of parliamentary friends of dementia by P. C. Thomas M P
Minister of social justice and empowerment released the charted of "Rights of people with dementia and their carers"
A new film on care giving in dementia with WHO support.
National photography competition on faces of dementia
Launch of national network of services for people with dementia.
Extensive media and TV coverage

Indonesia

Conducted one day seminar in Surabaya/ East Java and launched a manual/consensus statement on dementia. Media coverage on national newspaper

Iran

Held first conference on dementia and awareness / fundraising concert

Ireland

Launched book 'Dear Grandma' and unveiled new fundraising initiative 'Hero Day'

Israel

Coordinated a media campaign, which received national print, TV and radio coverage over 2 weeks and reached all sectors: secular, religious and Arabs.

Interviews were held with MPs, association board and science committee members, people with dementia and their families. A special hotline was set up and number of calls 'nearly broke the telephone exchange.' Formed a group 'the Alzheimer's low' in which a group of 8 parliamentarians agreed to support dementia issues in parliament. The association also produced, in association with the Israel Medical Association, a guidebook of accepted ways of treating dementia. Organised a Memory Walk with participation of MPs, mayors, families and young people.

Japan

Held street leafleting campaign in 84 cities - more than 1000 members of AAJ distributed more than 100,000 leaflets. Educational lecture and symposia were held in 38 cities.

Korea

Organised morning activities featuring lectures and public hearings and afternoon activities which included a presentation of a dementia family story, concert and music therapy practice.

Lebanon

Hosted an open lunch for caregivers and their patients and workshop for staff from nursing homes

Lithuania

Volunteers in Kaunas center (oldest city) distributed information about dementia and events on the day. People were invited to check their memory in all outpatient clinics in Kaunas city. Specialists will consult all day. The Lithuanian movie about Alzheimer disease was shown, information was distributed prior to the screening. Church service for those with dementia and carers, followed by gathering in a café.

Luxembourg

Held a Memory Walk

Malaysia

Held a public forum

Malta

Launch of Maltese Alzheimer Society chaired by Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care within the Ministry of Health. Information display at Zammit Clapp Hospital

Mexico

National press conference attended by numerous media national journals and on national TV. Daily press has been covering news since. Held a mass in Monterrey for pwd and families, training workshops for psychiogeriatricans, symposium for carers and collaborated with the Secretary of Health to develop 160 training courses for doctors in the country's main cities over the next two years.

Netherlands

Organised 1st national Memory Walk

Regionally:

meetings and boat trips for people with dementia and families with music, dance and drinks
founding meeting of the 41st branch in the city of Doetinchem
information, meetings and lectures
information stand and Q&A in a bookshop
theatre and film evenings
high tea
symposia
opening Alzheimer Cafés in Vlaardingen and Uden.

Nigeria

Held first Memory Walk and a religious service

Pakistan

Organised a dinner, musical concert (in collaboration with Pakistan Women Basketball Federation) with a short lecture on Alzheimer's disease and showing of Alzheimer's Australia's short film 'She misses him', and Memory Walk.

Panama

Organised Memory Walk and Memory Night in Panama City

Peru

Lobbied the local government in Miraflores (one of the most popular and famous districts in Lima). About 700 people participated and association distributed lots of information about themselves and dementia. Were also interviewed by main media networks and received extensive TV, radio and print coverage. Ended the day with celebration party for volunteers and sang happy birthday to ADI!

Philippines

'No time to lose' Memory walk

Poland

Organised a press conference where Minister of Health was special guest, picnic for people with dementia and their partners, public lecture, a theatre performance and a religious mass

Portugal

Embarked on their first media campaign which targeted national TV, radio and print, several information displays in shopping malls, launched a day care centre and presented the data of the 'Facing Dementia Survey' in Lisbon.

Puerto Rico

Held a Memory Walk

Romania

Organised national campaign with press conference, screening of "Iris" in the biggest Mall in Bucharest, launch of leaflets aimed at people with dementia, professionals and authorities, pre and post campaign mail shot, media coverage in three important reviews and in several newspapers, TV and radio coverage, launch of dementia helpline (8 hours/day) and conference for GPs

Scotland

Hosted their annual lecture "Age and intelligence: senility, sagacity or serenity?" at the Royal Society of Edinburgh and branches organised Tea Days throughout Scotland. Falkirk branch collected messages from ADI members and read them out on local radio station throughout the day, people with dementia working group met the Scottish health minister, wrote to every MSP, launched training video on working with the police.

Singapore

Organised 'Living with dementia - No time to lose' public forum with 400 people. Had a person with dementia speak - the first time this has happened in Singapore. Also organised a photo exhibition and Dementia Awareness Week of activities including open houses, workshops and talks for carers, and information displays in 2 public libraries.

Slovakia

Distributed information in the city centre, received national TV and radio coverage and showed a film about the memory centre.

South Africa

Information displays in clinics and churches, promotions in shopping malls and libraries, tea and luncheon parties, health walk in conjunction with other community organisations and training of staff of old age homes. Premier of the Western Cape's wife hosted a tea attended by role players in provincial government, potential donors and partners, corporate donors, and other VIP's in region. Also exhibited in the SAA Cape Town Flower Show and won the medal in the Exhibits of special Scientific, Environmental or Educational Interest category for excellence of presentation.

Spain

Held press conference where presented conclusions to a study calling for dementia to be considered a disability. Secretary of State of the Ministry of Work and Social Subjects and a representative of the Ministry of Health were present along with 23 journalists generating lots of radio and TV coverage. Minister of Health also announced the building of a centre for pwd in Salamanca. Branches held events throughout country.

Sri Lanka

National TV, radio and print coverage
Set up Alzheimer's promotion desk at a leading departmental store for three consecutive days prior to the WAD
A special television programme comparing ageing with special emphasis on dementia between Sri Lanka and France was originated in Colombo a week prior to WAD.
'Memory Walk' with live national radio interviews broadcast. Walk culminated with raffle draw

Sweden

Organised a meeting in Stockholm for 400 people which was shown live on the internet

Switzerland

Media campaign generated over 20 TV and radio spots and some 120 articles in the print media

Chinese Taipei

National dementia conference
Policy panel discussion
Social resources exhibition
Awareness raising campaign including: traditional opera, free dementia screening, consultation and memory games

Trinidad and Tobago

Were interviewed for TV programme "Dateline", organised a Memory Walk, and seminar.

Turkey

Hosted an Association gathering and balloon release followed by a concert of folkloric music.

Ukraine

Organised a seminar for people with dementia and their carers

Venezuela

Organised a national Memory Walk supported by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and attended by 1,500 people and featured on 6 TV channels, 8 radio stations and national and regional newspapers. Also organised events throughout the country including conferences, training programmes and seminars.

Zimbabwe

Organised press conference attended by medical journalists from the media including government and private newspapers, service providers, WHO representative, drug companies and medical aid companies