Back to list 2016-06-22 10:05:47

Recently, China Alzheimer’s Project, in collaboration with Jinmei Care for the Elderly successfully held the launching ceremony of China Dementia Friends program. International health insurance service provider MSH China, as the first batch of dementia-friendly organization, participated in this event. Over a hundred agency representatives, professional staffs and dementia family caregivers from both home and abroad witnessed this moment.

Dementia Friends program is the initiative aiming at the general population to join this global activity. It provokes people to obtain knowledge about dementia, so as to eliminate their fear, sense of stigma and mis-perceptions, and it encourages people to become a member of dementia-friendly society and make a change with every little step of progress. Dementia Friends program invites people from all walks of life to acquire and spread the correct knowledge about dementia, to change their attitude and way of communication with the patients, and to care for the dementia elders, who need more understanding, respect and patience, with all heart and soul in the community.

In November, 2012, David Cameron, British Prime Minister, announced the launch of Dementia Friends scheme in Britain, which was implemented by Alzheimer's Research UK. Over the past three years, more than 1.5 million dementia friends emerged in UK, who are gradually transforming the thinking, attitudes and act nationwide about the condition. From then on, dementia friends have sprung up across the world, promoting and coordinating the global network of dementia-friendly action.

Starting from 2015, China Alzheimer’s Project has been preparing for China Dementia Friends program under the guidance and support from Alzheimer’s disease International. In April 2016, China Alzheimer’s Project signed an agreement with Alzheimer's Research UK, by sharing resources, the program has been promoted to the country with the largest dementia population.