1. Comprehensive Prevention Scheme for Healthy Seniors
Middle East and North Africa Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International Alzheimer’s Disease – The Global Health Crisis of the 21st Century 8-9 December 2013, Dubai
L Hafarian 1, A Mirhaj 2, M Salehi 3, F Farin 4, M Khansari 5 1Head Education & Research, 2 Head Public Awareness & Education, 3 Chief Executive Officer, 4 Overseas PR- coordinator , 5 Deputy Chief Executive Officer Iran Alzheimer’s Association Presenter: Dr Hossein Nahvinejad (Secretary of National Council for the Elderly)

2. 1. CONTEXT
2. OBJECTIVES
3. METHOD
4. RESULTS
5. CONCLUSION

3. prevalence of dementia
1. CONTEXT
Worldwide the elderly population is rapidly increasing
create a huge problem
Rise in
prevalence of dementia

4. In the Western world: In Iran: Gradual aging population
services for promotion of health and prevention of disease in the elderly have been created (in order to achieve healthier and more independent aging)
In Iran:
The increased life expectancy
Gradual aging population
The related health issues such as:
- Dementia
- depression, isolation
- lack of social interaction, hope, hobby, social support
- Impose more social and economic problems

5. In order to promote healthy aging
Iran Alzheimer Association
In 2005
initiated a comprehensive prevention scheme
For healthy seniors empowering individuals
To reduce risk factors of dementia

6. 2. OBJECTIVES Primary goal: Raise quality life & health of the elderly
Secondary goals:
Raising awareness about the old age diseases
Raising quality of physical, mental, psychological, health, spirituality and social skills
Make better choices improving life style
Long term goals:
Reduce the affect of old age diseases and disabilities
Identifying aging population in the country, reaching them by extending the project
Reduce cost by raising quality of health in the elderly

7. 3. METHOD Member enrollment Target groups Empowerment Execute plan
Activities
Evaluation
Extending the cycle of the project to different locations

8. a. Member enrolment Complete the membership form
Steps to take for member enrolment:
Complete the membership form
Pay membership’s annual fee
To feel part of a group
To cover the groups’ running costs
Complete medical form by:
Physical examination by a doctor
Psychological evaluation by a psychologist or a psychiatrist using psychological tests
Issuing membership cards
Join the activities
Weekly counselling
Evaluate each member by psychological test and medical check-up every 6 months

9. b. Target groups
People over the age of 50

10. C. Empowerment The five essence of empowerment is:
Sense of Competence:
Believing in being capable performing own tasks
Self-determination:
Making free choices and feel motivated
Personal consequence:
Believe in self importance an capable
of making positive changes
Meaning:
The sense of expression and interpretation of what is being done
Trust:
Feeling of being safe

11. d. Execute plan
In accordance with the essence of empowerment, the project’s process namely, completion of forms, coordination with staff are executed by the members
One staff of IAA from the Education Department monitors the direction of the process

12. e. Activities

13. Education Learn about:
Dementia , Alzheimer’s disease, risk factors, prevention
Hygiene/dealing with age related issues
Mental and physical changes/menopause
10 living skills (self conscious, anger management, anxiety……
Preventing falls/suitable living area
Suitable diet/information about medication(effects/side effects)…
Learning a second language

14. Exercise Scheduled exercise programs:
(aerobic, physical exercise, yoga, Thai chi …..)

15. socialize Celebrations & fun time Travel tours Reading
brainstorming sessions

16. Music & art therapy
Music, flower- making, choir and painting classes

17. f. Evaluation Continuous evaluation of the project by:
Distribution of questionnaires for obtaining members’ opinions about the project
Evaluating members’ health(by physical examination and psychological tests) and comparison between the present state of health and pre-membership and a control groups

18. g. The stages in developing the cycle of the project include:
keep records and transfer knowledge
identifying the new target groups
laying down the infrastructure
hold meetings explaining the project
identify the priorities
plan suitable intervention
execute the plan
monitor

19. 4. RESULTS
IAA has been monitoring the project regularly. The findings indicate that:
The rate of depression in this group is much lower than other seniors in the community and in some cases participants’ depression has declined after joining the project.
The members of the project are happier, have a greater rate of Self-esteem and enjoy a better quality of life.
Have better general health

20. 5. CONCLUSION
The success of the project in raising the quality of health of seniors has been the reason for running the project for 8 consecutive years, in different locations in Tehran

21. Iran Alzheimer Association(IAA) www.Iranalz.ir
با سپاس
Thank You
شكراً
Iran Alzheimer Association(IAA)