ZAINTZEN

Name of good practice ZAINTZEN
Name of organisation AFAGI

FUNDACIÓN AUBIXA

Website http://zaintik.org/

http://afagi.eus/es/zaintzen/

Email Address http://zaintik.org/es/contacto/
City, Country Donostia, Spain
Sector Healthcare, volunteer work, families

SHORT DESCRIPTION

The ‘Zaintzen’ training programme is aimed at carers of sufferers from Alzheimer’s disease and has been organized by AFAGI and the Aubixa Foundation with the assistance and co-operation of a range of public bodies such as the Social Policy Department of the Regional Government of Guipúzcoa.

The Programme:

Comprehensive training for carers of sufferers from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in Guipúzcoa and the Lea-Artibai area in Biscay.

The overall aim of the project:

Enhance the quality of life of both sufferers from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and their carers, be relatives or volunteers, through the introduction of compulsory training.

The training provided:

The ZAINTZEN programme offers four different modules to meet a range of training needs:

MODULE 1: 2 IN-CLASS HOURS.

Module 1: 1 two- hour session.

Subjects:

  • What is Alzheimer’s?
  • What kinds of dementia are there?
  • New treatments for Alzheimer’s

MODULE 2: 6 IN-CLASS HOURS.

Module 2 – 3 two-hour sessions.

Subjects:

  • What is Alzheimer’s?
  • What kinds of dementia are there?
  • New treatments for Alzheimer’s
  • Dementia and the family: communicating with dementia sufferers. How to react to behavioural changes.
  • Caring for the carers
  • Healthcare resources.

MODULE 3: 10 IN-CLASS HOURS.

Module 3 – 5 two-hour sessions.

Subjects:

  • What is Alzheimer’s?
  • What kinds of dementia are there?
  • New treatments for Alzheimer’s
  • Dementia and the family: communicating with dementia sufferers. How to react to behavioural changes.
  • Psychostimulants and other complementary therapies.
  • Caring for the carers. Healthcare resources.
  • Making decisions: legal and financial aspects.
  • The importance of nutrition.
  • Healthcare in the different phases of the disease.

MODULE 4: 20 IN-CLASS HOURS.

Module 4– 10 two-hour sessions.

Subjects:

  • What is Alzheimer’s?
  • What kinds of dementia are there?
  • New treatments for Alzheimer’s
  • Dementia and the family: communicating with dementia sufferers. How to react to behavioural changes.
  • Psychostimulants and other complementary therapies.
  • Caring for the carers.
  • Healthcare resources.
  • Making decisions: legal and financial aspects.
  • The importance of nutrition.
  • Healthcare in the different phases of the disease.
  • Postural stability and technical aids.
  • Relaxation techniques for carers.
  • Round table discussion: life lessons, testimonials and experiences from carers for relatives.

WHY HAS IT BEEN SELECTED AS A BEST PRACTICE?

This programme has been selected as a best practice for a variety of reasons:

-The target group:

The course is primarily aimed at family carers but also at professionals, volunteers and anyone interested in working in the field of care for sufferers from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Whilst mainly aimed at family carers the content is broad enough to be adapted to the needs of other groups.

 

-The broad nature of the training programme:

The course content is varied and covers a broad area and includes general information about the disease, nutrition, postures and technical aids, cognitive stimulation and legal aspects amongst others; it concludes with a round table discussion amongst carers who will share their life lessons and experiences.

 

-The flexible nature of the training:

 

The course offers four different options: from simple, short introductory courses covering general aspects of dementia to the complete course which includes all the content described above.

This enables courses to cater for a broad range of students with different needs and commitments.

-The teaching staff:

The teachers delivering the course are experienced professionals with a broad range of experience in the field. Each teacher from this multidisciplinary team draws on their experience in their field to make their contribution. The team includes neurologists, psychologists, social workers, lawyers, nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and other specialists.

  • All
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom