Context
Dementia presents a significant challenge to families, individuals with the condition and broader society. Caregivers experience burnout and struggle to provide specialised care, leading to the marginalisation of adults with disabilities. These families require access to appropriate support services. While some services exist in the city of Cluj-Napoca, there is a critical service gap in rural Romania. Additionally, social stigma and a lack of awareness exacerbate the challenges faced by people with dementia and their families. In the face of an ageing population, the pressure on existing nursing homes is projected to further increase. This project operates within this context, aiming to expand high-quality services and address stigma through a dementia-friendly community model, in collaboration with local and national authorities and organisations.
Objectives
The project’s overarching goal is to develop the community’s capacity to support both individuals with dementia and their caregivers, enabling their full integration into society. It aims to raise awareness about dementia to reduce stigma. Specific objectives include creating tools to ensure the sustainability of the dementia-friendly community beyond the project’s lifespan and promoting expansion at a regional and national level. It further strives to develop a regional network that will increase access to dementia-focused social services and improve the overall quality of life for affected individuals and their caregivers.
Implementation
The project, led by CPD Cluj, provides technical assistance and guidance to communities seeking to become dementia-friendly. The implementation plan begins by establishing a working group and stakeholder committee comprised of professionals and volunteers from health and social care organisations. A survey will be designed to solicit feedback on making Cluj-Napoca more dementia-friendly. Joint activities for people with dementia, their families and professionals will be held to promote information exchange, awareness and socialisation. The project will offer protocols, methodology and tools for dementia-friendly community development. Crucially, it leverages the institutional involvement of regional authorities, non-profit organisations and the business community for resource support.