Online now: "Asking for Help: The Network" video offers resources for caregivers of individuals with dementia

The second encounter of the "Free from Fears" series took place on Thursday, 5 December. The event focused on various forms of support available for family caregivers of individuals with dementia. It explored resources and strategies to help cope with everyday challenges, emphasizing the importance of seeking assistance and building a support network. The video titled "Asking for Help: The Network," along with a recording of the event, is available online.

The video "Asking for Help: The Network" premiered during the evening, offering insights into the topic of asking for help from family caregivers and the support that can come from many sources, helping to create an effective support network.

The video concept was developed by the research team led by Dr Maddalena Fiordelli, with the participation of Dr Anna Messina, Dr Rebecca Amati and Anna Maria Annoni. The production was curated by videomaker Milly Miljkovic, with Ambra Guidotti providing technical support for audio editing.

The evening began with a general introduction, followed by speeches from the speakers. Dr Anna De Benedetti discussed the resources available in the region to support family caregivers. She highlighted how these resources can be utilized to improve quality of life and enhance access to necessary support.

Professor Carlo De Pietro discussed the link between local resources and the ageing process in Ticino, exploring the implications for care management in the regional context. Claudio Sulser shared his personal experience as a family caregiver, offering an intimate perspective on the difficulties and needs of those in this position.

The evening was moderated by Giancarlo Dillena, who led a rich and participative discussion between the speakers and the audience.

The next encounter in the series "Free from Fears: Finding Time for oneself" will be held on 20 February 2025 at 5:30 pm in the East Campus Lugano Aula Polivalente, Via la Santa 1, Viganello. It will be an opportunity to reflect on the importance of taking care of oneself while supporting a loved one.

The flyer for the next event on 20 February 2024 is available at the following link.

The project "Free from Fears" is developed by the Institute of Public Health (IPH) of Università della Svizzera italiana, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Affairs of the Canton of Ticino (DSS), Pro Senectute Ticino e Moesano, Alzheimer Ticino, the City of Lugano, Lugano Istituti Sociali (LIS), the Associazione Ticinese degli Psicologi (ATP) and the Swiss Red Cross Sottoceneri Section (CRSS). The project is financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). More information on the project is available at the following link.

The video "Asking for help: The network" is available at the following link, while the recording of the second encounter of the series "Free from fears" is available at the following link.