A project approved by Promotion Santè Suisse to build care pathways for dementia starts at IPH

The project "Building care pathways for dementia: an integrated and participatory approach to preserve autonomy" (CoPeC), led on USI's side by Dr Maddalena Fiordelli, lecturer-researcher at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), is one of three projects approved by Promotion Santè Suisse in 2024. Dr Rebecca Amati, Post-doctoral Researcher at USI Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, will coordinate the project. A PhD student in public health will also collaborate, for which a call for applications has been announced.

The project will take place from January 2025 to December 2028. Its goal is to create integrated care pathways that promote the early detection of cognitive disorders. This initiative aims to slow the progression of these disorders to dementia while helping to preserve the autonomy of those affected. Four measures are planned: identifying entry doors, assessing needs and innovations, designing targeted pathways, and preparing informational materials.

The CoPeC project intends to make use of "the experience, the extensive network of collaborations and the resources acquired in recent years through the cantonal dementia strategy", to develop health promotion, prevention, diagnosis, and care (of the patient but also of the caring family members) and therapeutic approaches, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological.

The project is being implemented by USI's Institute of Public Health in collaboration with the Association of Directors of Homes for the Elderly in Southern Switzerland (ADiCASI), the Cantonal Medical Office, the Office for the Elderly and Care at Home, the Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of Southern Switzerland - Memory Clinic, Pro Senectute Ticino and Moesano, Alzheimer Ticino, GincoTicino and the Mendrisiotto and Basso Ceresio Home Care Association (ACD).