Improving the quality of life of the elderly

Focused on improving the life quality of the elderly and organized by the British Hospital Memorial Clinic, on Thursday April 7th a workshop is going to be held for relatives and patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. As a consequence of members’ doubts regarding memory and disorders of elder, and particularly regarding memory, we decided to organize series of activities focused on education and prevention, giving tools in order to improve the quality of life of the elderly, explained the psychologist Ana Charamelo, member of the multidisciplinary team of the Memory Clinic. The British Hospital has had a Memory Clinic for more than 15 years, with a multidisciplinary team integrated by physicians, neurologists, gerontologists and psychiatrists, psychologists and other professionals. Master in Social Gerontology at the Autonomous University of Madrid and Specialist in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, Charamelo, recalled that the elderly and their families often come to consultation "due to memory problems that may answer to circumstantial reasons, which could be about a mild cognitive impairment or it may also be because of the beginning of a dementia process, Alzheimer or another disease.” This is why through the workshop methodology a subject which raises concern not only to the elderly but also to their families will be approached. Under the slogan “being conscious of aging, avoid dependence” a sequence where the subject addressed is to improve the quality of life during this stage of life will be included, focused on health care, active aging, food, rest, social activities and mental activity among other issues”. "Today we live proximally 30 years after we retire and most people do not plan it, so we have to be conscious that we should take advantage of all these years that should be fully lived," she said. She reminded that internationally longevity is "the aging of aging" and explained that "the approach is prevention, to be prepared and give people tools so they can live and enjoy adultness in the best way". The initiative of the British Hospital leaves aside stereotypes related to old age, staying focus on the quality of life and taking part in continuous education policies and Institution health prevention. With these initiatives the British Hospital provides members with tools to live different life stages in the best way, such as childhood, adolescence as well as adulthood, informing and encouraging them to coexist with the natural elements of each of them.