Dementia is a syndrome, usually of a chronic or progressive nature, caused by a variety of brain illnesses that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and ability to perform everyday activities. The number of people living with dementia worldwide is currently estimated at 47 million and is projected to increase to 75 million by 2030. The number of cases of dementia are estimated to almost triple by 2050 (WHO, 2017).
With the increasing number of European citizens suffering from dementia, the care of these citizens has become a significant challenge within the European Union.
Dementia is overwhelming not only for the people who have it, but also for their caregivers and families. There is a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia in most countries, resulting in stigmatization, barriers to diagnosis and care, and impacting carers, families and societies physically, psychologically and economically.
EDEN is an Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership within the priority “adult education”. It is intended to address the handling of dementia as a cooperative effort shared between professional care providers, relatives and civil society in order to facilitate a better quality of life for the patients and their relatives.
Such objective is achieved through the implementation of educational and information tools for carers as well as outreach, guidance and motivation strategies intended to ensure that carers’ quality of life remain satisfactory while disease is progressing and they receive the best possible support from the healthcare professional and their community.
The consortium is composed by the Southern Denmark European Office (Coordinator), University College Lillebaelt, Stichting Health Ageing Network Northern Netherlands, University of Udine, Fundación instituto Gerontológico Matia and the European Connected Health Alliance.
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