Year started: 2020

Move your Hands for Dementia (MYH4D) is an Erasmus+ project that supports adult educators in extending competences on educating communities on dementia health literacy. A more health literate dementia community is the first step to improving a more inclusive and equal “dementia friendly community”: a society in which people with dementia are enhanced and valued. Community health literacy about dementia is important as it enables approaching to problems in this area with more responsibility and with more knowledge and competencies on the matter. And why are we addressing dementia health literacy? As it is key in improving the quality of life of those living with dementia and of their family members. From an individual’s point of view it gives you social skills to deal with the situation and from the community perspective increased dementia health literacy builds an inclusive and supportive community. People with dementia who still live at home in the care of their family members are a somewhat invisible part of our communities. They live amongst us, have their needs, wishes and rights, but need to be supported to be able to perform daily tasks in the community and not face any stigma, social isolation or exclusion. The project will create a free, massive open online course "Be Connected" for adult educators, implement two community practices for people with dementia and their family members, and publish a guide with guidelines for improving sustainable education strategies and policies related to dementia.

Objectives

To equip adult educators with knowledge, skills and competences on how to improve dementia health literacy through education in communities, by using massive open and distance e-learning. Improved knowledge and competences on dementia will provide skills to build inclusive communities and offer concrete opportunities to people with dementia and their caregivers, improving the quality of their lives. By building sustainable educational strategies and policies with regards to dementia we are addressing the primary social, cultural and health needs of people with dementia and their carers.

Scope

The target groups of the Move your hands for dementia project are: adult educators, people with dementia, family caregivers of those living with dementia, adult educator leaders, organisers and policy makers on education and dementia related issues.