Two presentations led by Alzheimer’s Portugal will be held in Lagos and Tavira in April
Having a loved one fall ill to a mental condition such as dementia or Alzheimer’s can be an incredibly painful experience.
Michael Reeve, CEO of Portugal’s largest foreign residents’ association (afpop), knows this all too well, having seen his father and father-in-law struggle to cope after his mother and mother-in-law were both diagnosed with at least one of these conditions.
Since then, helping people learn more about dementia and Alzheimer’s has become a passion of his, one which he will realise with two presentations focusing specifically on these conditions in Lagos (Tuesday, April 9) and Tavira (Wednesday, April 17). They will be part of “afpop presents…”, a new brand of presentations which began last month and focused on prostate cancer. These presentations also featured PSA screenings at the HPA hospitals in Alvor and Gambelas as well as the Cruz Vermelha Hospital in Lisbon.
“I was expecting maybe five people to show up for the first event in Alvor, because men historically don’t want to talk about these things in public, but 40 people turned up,” Michael Reeve told the Resident, adding that members from other parts of the Algarve and Lisbon also showed an interest in these presentations.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s will be the theme of the next two presentations, entitled “Spotting the signs, dispelling the myths”. These events are not intended for people who are suffering or caring for sufferers of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, but instead for those who want to know what the early signs of these conditions are.
“We’ve all forgotten names or where we’ve put our keys, but when we are young, we simply joke about it and don’t really worry. But when you reach a certain age, you start to question whether these situations are just normal forgetfulness that comes with age or something more,” Michael explains.
“Alzheimer’s Portugal, which will be giving the presentations, will talk about what is natural and acceptable forgetfulness, the changes you undergo as you get older and what you should or shouldn’t be concerned about,” he says, adding that the association will also provide insight into who you should seek help from if these issues become a concern.
The main goal is to make sure people know what to do if a loved one is showing potential signs of these mental conditions, who to seek help from, and help them learn how to best deal with those suffering from these issues.
As Michael points out, people who have dealt with sufferers of dementia or Alzheimer’s often question what they could have done differently. These events aim to respond exactly to that question.
The presentations will be held in English and will both begin with a 10.30am registration followed by an 11am start. They are described as “informal sessions” and will allow participants to ask questions and clarify any doubts they have.
The Lagos presentation will take place at the town hall while the Tavira event will be held at the municipal library. The presentations are free for afpop members, with a €10 charge for non-members.
afpop is also planning to host presentations on eye care in May, on skin cancer before the start of the summer and on ovarian cancer and cervical cancer before the end of the year.
For more information or to reserve a space on the events in April, contact Marisa Neves on apoio@afpop.com
By MICHAEL BRUXO
