Advice for dementia

When a diagnosis of dementia is made, it can impact the life of the person with dementia in various ways, as well as the life of his or her loved ones. Our hospital has various initiatives relating to dementia that help support patients and their informal carers.

You can read more about informal care participation at our hospital here.

The diagnosis gives rise to many emotions and questions. It is a good idea to plan and prepare for the future together.

It may be the case that you, as a caregiver, will lose sight of the big picture and will question whether you have overlooked something. You might also have quite a few urgent emotional and practical questions.

You may schedule an appointment with a dementia expert:

Elsie Verstuyft

Telephone: +32 9 246 22 01

More information about Elsie Verstuyft

Myriam De Schynkel

Telephone: +32 9 246 22 45

Email address: myriam.deschynkel@azmmsj.be

More information about Myriam De Schynkel

Natasja Willemarck

Telephone: +32 9 246 99 91

Email address: natasja.willemarck@azmmsj.be

More information about Natasja Willemarck

Sofie Vanrusselt

Telephone: +32 9 246 13 60

More information about Sofie Vanrusselt

The physician can refer you to the ‘Cognufit’ programme: an individual rehabilitation programme for caregiver and patient.

During the first appointment, we seek to understand the situation of the person who has dementia and his or her environment in order to respond to direct questions.

During a follow-up session, we will continue to support you further in concrete difficulties like physical activities and a safe home environment. Upon request, we offer cognitive exercises and help you look for medical aids, as well as seek out memory tips and tricks. With the help of home-based tasks, we can then determine whether our tips are also able to be put into practice.

This programme does not forget the caregiver. You will receive tips regarding hygiene, self-care and medication use. There are also important tips for how to interact with a person who has dementia. In addition, we keep your own energy and emotional experience in mind.

Practical aspects

The initial consultation is held at the Geriatrics Day Hospital. The subsequent sessions are scheduled in consultation with you. We can also refer to other care providers and to the psychological education programme for caregivers of persons with dementia: Dementia: care for the caregiver.

Contact

• Geriatrics Day Hospital: +32 (0)9 246 22 01
• cognufit@azmmsj.be

For informal carers

In Flanders, almost 65% of people with dementia live at home. Some live alone, others with a relative. People often have a great number of questions after the diagnosis. Those include practical questions but also questions about the emotional aspect.

How can you look after your relative with dementia but also look after yourself? ‘Dementia: care for the caregiver’ focuses on informal carers who care for someone with dementia, either at or outside of the home.

A number of things may be helpful:

• Finding out more about dementia, its impact, how to cope with it and what support is available.
• Learning to cope with your feelings, thoughts and caregiving burden better.
• Meeting people who support and understand you.

What do we offer?

Ten meetings:

• always in the same group of up to 15 informal carers of people with (young-onset) dementia
• exchange of insights, knowledge and skills
• reflection and exchange with other informal carers

These sessions will help you to cope with the sometimes challenging caregiving situation and also to derive satisfaction from it.

‘Dementia: care for the caregiver’ is a psychological education package developed at the initiative of the Flemish Expertise Centre for Dementia and the Flemish Alzheimer's League non-profit organisations. The counsellors have completed the ‘Dementia: care for the caregiver’ coach training.

Price?

€80.00 This includes your participation in the ten sessions and a copy of the book ‘Dementia: care for the caregiver’ (Dementie en nU) for informal carers.

When?

In the Dementia Walk-in Clinic, 6.00pm to 9.00pm

• Thursday, March 2, 2023
  
• Thursday, 9 March 2023
• Thursday, 16 March 2023
• Thursday, 30 March 2023
  
• Thursday, April 6, 2023
• Thursday, 13 April 2023
• Thursday, 20 April 2023
• Thursday, 4 May 2023
• Thursday, May 11, 2023
• Thursday, 18 May 2023

At the Maria Middelares Ghent General Hospital, 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

• Thursday, 7 September 2023
  
• Thursday, 14 September 2023
• Thursday, 21 September 2023
• Thursday, 28 September 2023
  
• Thursday, 5 October 2023
• Thursday, 12 October 2023
• Thursday, 19 October 2023
• Thursday, 26 October 2023
• Thursday, 2 November 2023
• Thursday, 9 November 2023

Natasja Willemarck

Telephone: +32 9 246 99 91

Email address: natasja.willemarck@azmmsj.be

More information about Natasja Willemarck

Myriam De Schynkel

Telephone: +32 9 246 22 45

Email address: myriam.deschynkel@azmmsj.be

More information about Myriam De Schynkel

Get more information by e-mail or through one of our staff:

Dementie heeft een impact op verschillende vlakken. Het is goed om samen met je mantelzorger een aantal dingen in orde te brengen en samen na te denken over de toekomst. Pak dit op je eigen tempo aan. Niet alles hoeft meteen te gebeuren.

Hieronder vermelden we de belangrijkste en meest voorkomende zaken. De lijst is niet volledig: dementie uit zich immers op verschillende manieren. Elke persoon heeft nood aan een aanpak op zijn maat.

De houvast voor dementie richt zich tot personen met beginnende dementie en hun steunfiguren.

Only available in Dutch:

Dementie - een praktische houvast na de diagnose

Download

Wanneer de persoon met dementie tijdens zijn ziekenhuisopname begeleid wordt door zijn mantelzorger, een vertrouwd gezicht, kan dat verwardheid en onrust bij de patiënt voorkomen. Als mantelzorger ben je een onmisbare schakel in de zorgcontinuïteit van jouw naaste.

Gent wil een dementievriendelijke stad zijn. In het inloophuis dementie kan iedereen terecht met vragen over dementie.

AZ Maria Middelares is partner van het inloophuis dementie. Warme zorg voor personen met dementie en hun mantelzorgers staat voor ons immers voorop. Weet dat je ook steeds terecht kan bij je arts of onze dementiecoaches voor vragen.

Het Vlaams Expertisecentrum Mantelzorg is een samenwerking tussen het Vlaams Mantelzorgplatform en SAM (Steunpunt Mens en Samenleving). Het is één van de acties uit het mantelzorgplan van de Vlaamse overheid.

Op www.mantelzorgers.be vind je informatie op maat.