Mohammed T. Abou-Saleh

Principles and Practice of Geriatric Psychiatry.Editors: Professor John R. M. Copeland, Dr Mohammed T. Abou-Saleh and Professor Dan G. BlazerCopyright & 2002 John Wiley & Sons LtdPrint ISBN 0-471-98197-4 Online ISBN 0-470-84641-0334 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRYThe Role and Influence of the Alzheimer’s SocietyNori GrahamAlzheimer’s Disease International, London, UKOver the last 20 years there has been a quantum leap in awareness ofthe fact that carers of people with dementia are among the moststressed and underprivileged members of the community. This hasled carers to seek each other out, support one another and form selfhelpgroups. Self-help groups form the backbone of nationalAlzheimer’s societies, whose aim is to use professional means toimprove the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers.It is well recognized that carers have needs which, if met, can gosome way to alleviate the stress. Alzheimer’s societies can be amechanism through which carers can articulate these needs andprovide and give guidance to others.The Alzheimer’s Society in the UK arose from a smallbeginning in 1979 to one of the fastest growing and respectedvoluntary organizations in the UK, with a current income of £20million. It has helped to raise public awareness about dementiaamongst all sections of the population. Its success is due to its rolein defining core services, a successful fund-raising strategy and theinvolvement of people with personal, business and professionalexperience. Its particular strength is that members all belong toone national society and are encouraged to meet locally in selfhelpgroups and other activities. This has led to a branchstructure, with local committees and paid workers supported bythe national body.Dissemination of information is the most important task for anAlzheimer’s society. Answering enquiries and the availability ofgood professional material is a proven route to greater awarenessand recognition.Carers need services. These include domiciliary care, day careand residential care. With government grants a rarity and manysocieties operating on a shoe-string, there are insufficient or noservices in most countries. Voluntary organizations, such asAlzheimer’s societies, because of their great flexibility, are in abetter position to be innovative than are statutory bodies.Alzheimer’s societies can provide models of good practice andpromote these vigorously as a basis for government action.Building a strong national society takes a number of years. Onehas to decide on the aims, look at fund-raising opportunities,make financial plans, computerize the office, get together a goodset of publications, put into place parliamentary lobbying, collecta good team of staff and volunteers and decide on a branchstructure. Funding research is only possible for those largersocieties with significant resources. All national societies face thisarray of tasks. The challenge for Alzheimer’s Disease International,the umbrella organization of currently 60 nationalsocieties, is to support the very varied needs of national societiesin different stages of development and with different culturalattitudes to older people and voluntary help.Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals will find itwell worth their while to become members of their nationalsociety and involved in its work. This increases the likelihood thatgovernments worldwide will take seriously the impact of dementiaon the individual and family, and provide resources to supportpeople with dementia and their families.