“We have to run to be before the illness, so that it doesn’t catch up with us ! “. Stéphanie entrusts this sentence to us with a smile from Raphaël Delcourt, his wife. “He calls me his post-it. I’m a bit of his mental coach when he’s down. We must move forward. I often say to him: Come on, we’re alive! That’s the main thing! “. They are a united couple who have been facing Alzheimer’s disease for 3 years. Diagnosed at 43, Raphaël Delcourt draws, from the love of his family, the strength to move forward despite regular memory loss. This resident de Huy has just taken on an ambitious challenge: connecting the 12 towns in the provinces of Namur and Liège with an Alzheimer café. He ran 280 km in 12 days, from September 19 to 27. through Huy, Herve, Verviers, Ciney and Namur in particular, the courageous runner started each day of this first ‘Alzheimer Tour’ with a meeting with residents in an Alzheimer Café in one of the 12 stage towns His objective? disease but also Alzheimer’s Cafés, valuable places for sharing information This initiative coincides with World Alzheimer’s Day, celebrated on September 21.
Alzheimer Cafés: very useful places for discussion in communities
“These are reception and meeting places for sick people but also for close caregiversexplains Sabine Henry, president of the Alzheimer League. The idea is to exchange experiences. And above all to show sick people and those around them that they are not alone. An Alzheimer Café is a rallying point and discussion point. It’s a bit like a market stall where you go to get what you want. You can stop by to simply have a good cup of coffee. No one is required to register. No one has to speak. It’s a way to break the isolation. Those around them can isolate themselves because they are afraid of how people will look at them and refuse to make the sick person bear the judgment. The behavior of patients may not be socially acceptable. For me, you have to learn and recognize the illness. And above all, learn to communicate with sick people and make them want to get in touch“.
The Alzheimer Café at the Ursulines Institute in Namur received a Solidarity Generations School Prize
In Namur, two teachers from the Ursulines Institute have set up an Alzheimer Café within their school, under the aegis of the Alzheimer League. For 3 years, students have welcomed close caregivers and people affected by the disease. Future family caregivers offer activities to people with dementia while caregivers discuss their experiences and receive advice. Line Brunet, a teacher with a big heart, trained with the Alzheimer League with her equally committed colleague Françoise Cornet. “We always specify that we are neither a psychologist nor a neurologist. We are here to listen, to be able to give sources of information, little advice. Above all, it is the group which discusses lived experiences, which recommends an interesting film. Everyone comes to share what concerns them and have a nice little moment where there is no judgement.” Students are already faced with Alzheimer’s disease, during their internships as home caregivers, or in nursing homes. “I wanted them to meet these people and help them in a less medicalized setting. The caregivers give them advice. They are prepared and develop more empathy towards these sick people “, smiles Line Brunet. Students are often taken by surprise when faced with the tears of seniors. “ By seeing how my colleague and I react, how we overcome this slightly more difficult milestone in the afternoon with humor and kindness, our students feel more reassured, more equipped. Humor saves us all!“. The Ursuline Institute also received a School Prize from the Générations solidaires jury, initiated by your newspaper, in collaboration with the King Baudouin Foundation.
As for Raphaël Delcourt met during the Huy stage, he wants to deliver a message of hope to those who experience the disease on a daily basis: “When the diagnosis comes, we are at the thirty-sixth bottom. You have to take the time to get back up and try to see life differently. We try to boost ourselves together “.
To find out more: Alzheimer League ASBL – HELP near you
Katel Fréson
Find the winners on www.generations-solidaires.be
Make the connection with An Alzheimer café in a school: to spread everywhere! – L’Avenir (lavenir.net)
Focus
Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases are the seventh leading cause of death worldwide and every three seconds, someone is affected. It is estimated that more than 55 million people worldwide are affected by it today. In just over five years, this figure will rise to 78 million and to 139 million by 2050.
From then on, the two teachers from the Ursulines Institute in Namur, who were inspired by the Alzheimer Café at the Institut de la Providence in Ciney, hope to inspire followers elsewhere in Wallonia. “The Alzheimer League supported us during the implementation of the project in 2020 and supports us during questions and difficulties. The role of facilitator can be entrusted to anyone wishing to open an Alzheimer Café according to the protocol of the Alzheimer League“.
What is Solidarity Generations?
This is an operation initiated by your newspaper in collaboration with the King Baudouin Foundation. It highlights local solidarity initiatives from associations, schools, youth support services, centers for people with disabilities, rest homes, neighborhood committees, etc.
For whom? Citizen collectives – involving at least one young person under the age of 26 – associations or organizations working at local and/or regional level.
With 2024 Of the 149 projects received this year, the Générations solidaires jury selected 10 associations and 5 schools. These were rewarded on June 27, 2024 in Namur. Find all the reports on www.generations-solidaires.be
Agenda The 9th edition of the call for projects will be launched in January 2025. Prepare your file already by contacting our coordinator: [email protected]
Find the winners on www.generations-solidaires.be
