Dementia awareness for ex-pats on the Costas

DEMENTIA AWARENESS is being promoted on the Costas with the help of the British Consulate in Spain. 

Expatriate support organisations such as the Royal British Legion, Age Concern España, HELP and Age Care are working with the consulate in Alicante and Malaga to help improve services for people affected by dementia. 

During the week from February 15 to February 19 the consulate hosted learning events in Alicante, Murcia and Malaga, led by UK dementia experts Sue Brewin and Su Burns. 

Different types of dementia were discussed along with ways to improve communication with sufferers of the degenerative disease. 

The number of people diagnosed with dementia in Western Europe is predicted to double by 2050, with one in three people likely to be affected, according to research from the UK-based charity Alzheimer’s Society.  This means that organisations that help British Nationals will face more cases and need further expertise. 

With huge numbers of expatriate British residents living in the south of Spain, dementia is due to become escalating problem. Many elderly expatriates may have substantial care needs but may have little or no resources or family to support them. To qualify for social services such as home help, British nationals must have previously registered with the Spanish authorities with the British Consulate offices urging people to register now.

Dementia covers several types of brain disease, including Alzheimer’s, the most common form. There is no cure and the disorders are usually progressive. Further information regarding healthcare for British Nationals living in Spain can be found via the website www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-in-spain