At the kick-off event, the motto of this year's campaign week "Meeting each other openly" could be felt as soon as you entered the foyer of the district hall. Numerous information stands invited visitors that afternoon to talk to the experts present about new forms of living, helpful care and support options and newly designed sports and cultural activities.
Heiner Pfrommer, head of the district's Department of Labor, Youth and Social Affairs, opened the series of events in the main conference room with his welcoming address. The social goal is to provide people with dementia and their relatives with a framework that enables them to live in the midst of society. He thanked the organizers of the Dementia Week for their commitment and their willingness to support this project and to provide impetus for successful coexistence during this week and, of course, far beyond.
Sylvia Kern, Managing Director of the Alzheimer Society Baden-Württemberg and speaker of the afternoon, emphasized the special commitment of the district of Ludwigsburg in her welcoming remarks. The district has been an important cooperation partner for many years, for example in projects for people with incipient dementia. The district has managed to promote the establishment of important structures for people with dementia and their relatives.
With her reading "Walter W. wird wunderlich", which tells the fictional story of Walter W. and his wife Erna, Sylvia Kern impressively conveyed to the audience how different life with dementia can be. Challenging situations arise time and again in the family's everyday life. It became clear that information about dementia and early access to advice and support services can help to ease the burden. The numerous questions from visitors showed how much need there is for discussion on this topic and how necessary it is to engage in a mutual exchange.
Like Sylvia Kern, the professionals present were also concerned about the attitude towards people with dementia. They have a right to be taken seriously and acknowledged and to be part of society. It is also important to keep an eye on the needs of relatives, who often manage the care and support without assistance. At this point, friends, neighbors, the respective environment and, last but not least, the municipalities are also called upon. Sylvia Kern reported on the many services that can already be used, such as dementia partner training, but also pointed out the need for further development.
Following the inspiring presentation, the district's care support centers and the voluntary support group for people diagnosed with dementia introduced themselves.
Visitors can look forward to many more interesting events this week. More information can be found in the Dementia Week program booklet, which is available in the district hall and at all town halls and care support points in the district and from the cooperation partners. The program booklet can be viewed and downloaded on the website www.landkreis-ludwigsburg.de (start page, scroll down to "Topics and Services - Brochures"). Information can be obtained by calling the Ludwigsburg District Office on 07141 144-45106 or by sending an e-mail to: altenhilfe[at]landkreis-ludwigsburg.de.
Due to illness, the event "Forgotten Truth - Fragments" on September 27 in Ditzingen has been canceled.
The next event at the Kreishaus as part of Dementia Week will take place on Thursday, September 19, at 5 p.m.: It is entitled "Dementia - and now what?" Dr. Rainer Schaub, Head Physician at the Clinic for Geriatric Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum am Weissenhof, will give an up-to-date overview of the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dementia. Registration is not required.
