North Sea Dementia Group
North Sea Dementia Group meeting in Mechelen/Belgium
The annual meeting of the North Sea Dementia Group (https://northseadementiagroup.eu/) took place in Mechelen from the 21st to 23rd of may. Members of the group gave updates about developments in their country since last year´s meeting and highlighted ideas, programs or analyses they are currently involved in.
René Thyrian presented interim results of the monitoring and evaluation of the National Dementia Strategy in Germany. These results were discussed as currently there is an evaluation going on for the Luxemburg demenbtia plan and the evaluation of the new Dementia plan from Vlanders is currently designed.
Other sessions were focusing on Norwegian data on examinations of incidence of dementia (soon to be published), euthanasia/ assisted suicide as hot topic in belgian and dutch legislation/ health care. Colleagues gave updates on the new dutch dementia care standard, measuring quality of life in moderate to severe dementia aso.
Like always the 3-days meeting was accompanied by visiting local dementia care organisations/ institutions. We took a dementioa-friendly sightseeiong tour through Mechelen, visited a walk-in community center (https://www.mechelen.be/t-monument-inloophui) and visited the #beeldlab in Lier, an art project for people with young onset dementia (https://www.dementie.be/orionenpgn/beeldlab-beeldacademie-lier-zet-in-op-jongdementie/) (https://beeld.uitinlier.be/).
Last but not least, our third column of objectives is always cultural exchange. We had Belgian beer and excellent food (heatanker.be)
Next year the meeting will be hosted in Berlin!