Eurocarers
European association working for carers
Alzheimer Foundation of Spain-SAF- Fundacion Alzheimer Espana _FAE
Summary
The Spain Alzheimer Foundation -SAF (Foundacion Alzheimer Espana -FAE in Spanish) offers different services to people suffering from Alzheimer and their formal and informal caregivers, in particular an online platform (Moodle) to develop and deliver trainings, group support, orientation and counselling for carers and family members and cognitive stimulation for old people living with Alzheimer’s.
The SAF is a nonprofit organization that was created in July 1991 by a group of families and professionals involved in the Alzheimer disease matters, with the purpose of assisting and improving the quality of life of old people as well as the carers.
It has a great number of sponsors among Associations at National and also European level because, since the beginning, the SAF was aware of the importance of relationships with other Alzheimer organizations in Europe. For this reason, it participated as a founding member in creating ALZHEIMER EUROPE together with family organizations from Ireland, Belgium and Holland. They have constantly worked within the framework of this European organization. They have participated in projects financed by the European Commission and they have integrated their representatives within government structures.
The Association can count on a multidisciplinary team involving many types of professionals.
The initiative is well integrated in the social and health care system and is completely funded by donations and sponsorships.
There is no impact assessment.
Description
refers to the target users, kind of service provided, ICTs typologies and devices used
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A specific aim of this initiative is providing training, information and support to informal and formal carers of Alzheimer patients. |
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The statutory drivers of the Foundation are:
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Facilitate the provision of information and guidance to people suffering from Alzheimer symptoms as a form of preventive care.
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Provide technical assistance and healthcare to people who are affected by Alzheimer´s disease or dementia. This is done either in the foundation´s centres or establishments or through institutional arrangements in hospitals or private centres.
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Promote and encourage research and the study of Alzheimer’s disease. In particular, the pathology of the brain related to the deterioration of neurons or cells of the nervous system.
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Undertake activities whose purpose is the development of therapies for the degenerative pathological processes of the brain
Care Recipients
Informal carers
Paid assistants
Formal carers
Not available
Independent Living
Information and learning for carers
Personal Support and Social Integration for carer
Care coordination
The initiative provides different kinds of services through the online platform: contents for training for carers, group support, orientation and counselling for carers and family members and cognitive stimulation for old people with Alzheimer.Users can access the service after subscription to SAF, available online.
Very basic devices are needed to be reached by the service: personal computer with internet connection.
Operational Information
refers to the type of funding, budget, sustainability and organisations involved
Not applicable
Not available
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The SAF online platform, as the main channel for delivering the available services, has the possibility to sustain itself on the long term thanks to the donations and charity promotion activities. Furthermore, as the SAF has already participated in projects financed by the European Commission and has integrated its representatives within government structures, the platform has good chances to be financed in the future despite the actual economical crisis affecting Southern European Countries.
Not available
Authorities
Private Care Sector
Health and Social Care Systems
Third Sector
Private Companies
Not available
Informal Carers
Health Professionals
Social Care Professionals
Privately-Hired Care Assistants (inc. Migrant Care Workers)
Volunteers
The SAF has a multidisciplinary team made of experts in health communication, psychologists, social workers, physiotherapists, general practitioners, specialists, lawyers and administrative employees.
People, previously selected as volunteers, work together in a complementary manner in the various programs and services supplied by SAF, with the aim of promoting voluntary action.
The activities carried out by volunteers are:
- Accompany the old frail persons to medical examinations.
- Provide support to families at home to prevent the burn-out phenomenon that can often arise among overwhelmed carers.
- Support and assist carers in leisure activities.
- Assist in training to carers and professionals.
- Participate in events and administrative tasks of the Spain Alzheimer Foundation (World Alzheimer's Day).
Not available
The main promotion channel is the website, but the association collaborates with a radio station and a dedicated review and has a strong marketing system for achieving sponsorships and donations run through the website. Furthermore, the SAF edits a journal named “Memoria”, with
4 issues per year, distributed throughout the whole of Spain and also in some other European countries. On the website several guidebooks are available, covering different items, such as “Living with Alzheimer disease” and “ Daily Care Activities”, “Finding a Care Centre for relatives with Alzheimer”.
Evaluation
refers to the impact of the service on end-users, care organisations and authorities
Not available
Not available
Not available
Strengths
- The SAF is well integrated within the care and social system.
- The SAF has a multidisciplinary team involved in the services delivered through the online platform.
- The online platform provides a large variety of services for carers concerning all aspects of caring: social, psychological, legal, economic and medical issues.
- The SAF is member of the European network of Alzheimer Associations.
Weaknesses
- The only available language in the website is Spanish, so that migrants care workers or carers coming from other Countries can not be reached by the service.
- An impact assessment of the service was not carried out.
Opportunities
- The SAF is well linked with other European Alzheimer Associations and then this could give many chance to transfer this action patterns in different European Countries.
- The SAF has the possibility to share its experience and skills and to know others from similar associations.
Threats
- The actual economic crisis that affects Southern European Countries in particular, could decrease donations number by private companies and have a negative impact on the available resources for service delivering.
The service is already widespread in all national territory. It could be implemented in other Countries but only through a strong network of different kinds of partners at international level.
More Information
includes contacts, publications and accompanying documents
Redecker C, Reig J., Carrion T., Martinez S., Armajones M., McCarthy D., Fernandez M., The potencial of ICT in supporting Domiciliary Care in Spain, JRC-IPTS, 2010.
Fundación Alzheimer España
Tel:0034913431165 or 0034 91 343 11 75
e-mail: fae@alzfae.org
Website: FAE2.0: info@alzfae.org
Área Asistentes Sociales FAE: trabajadora.social@alzfae.org
Área Psicólogos FAE: psicologos@alzfae.org
Área Legal FAE: servicios.juridicos@alzfae.org
Área Terapia Ocupacional FAE: terapia.ocupacional@alzfae.org
Radio. Programa de Doña Carmina: consulta.carmina@alzfae.org
Radio. El Rincón de Aloysa: rincon.aloysa@alzfae.org
Medios de prensa, Publicidad, Empresas: info@alzfae.org