Estepona organizes a program of events to inform and raise public awareness about Alzheimer’s disease

On the occasion of the day of this disease, on September 21, recreational activities have been scheduled in the residences for the elderly, a walk and information tables on dementia and support for those affected and their families.

The City Council launched last year a pioneer music therapy program in the city that brings live singing to nursing homes and Alzheimer’s Day Center.

Estepona City Council informs that next September 21 is commemorated World Alzheimer’s Day. On this occasion, on September 18 and 19, there will be different activities organized by the three residences for the elderly in the Isdabe neighborhood: Vitalia, Residencia Virgen de la Esperanza and DomusVi to raise awareness and help prevent this disease. It is estimated that in the world there are 46.8 million people suffering from dementia and between 60% and 70% of these cases correspond to Alzheimer’s disease.

The program for Wednesday 18 will begin at 11.15 am with a piano concert by the Estepona musician and composer Ángel Moya at the DomusVi Isdabe Residence. Then, at 12.00 pm, will begin a session of the therapeutic music therapy program called ‘The sound beautifies you, Mayor’, which the City Council carries out in the residences of Estepona and Isdabe and Alzheimer’s Day Center. The professional singer and technician in care for people in a situation of dependency, Ana Fargas, is responsible for teaching the sessions in which she performs popular songs, flamenco, sevillanas, copla or boleros.

This pioneering music therapy project aimed at the elderly for active aging through music, began in October 2023. After the initial phase of the project, for a period of three months, both the management and professionals of the Alzheimer Day Center of Estepona and the Residence DomusVi Isdabe and Virgen del Carmen of Estepona, noted a marked improvement in the overall welfare of its users at the physical, cognitive, emotional, social and behavioral, agreeing to evaluate very positively the delivery of the project, which this year has been extended to the Residence Vitalia of Isdabe.

The program of events will continue on Thursday 19 with the celebration of a ‘healthy walk intercentros’ Isdabe and CEIP Isdabe del Mar, with departure at 11.15 am from the Avenida del Norte, 19.

For its part, the Association of Relatives of Alzheimer’s patients will install on 21 several information tables in different parts of the town, which will raise awareness among citizens different aspects of this disease, bringing them closer to the reality experienced by patients and their families. Neurodegenerative dementias, including Alzheimer’s, are relentless diseases that affect not only memory and other cognitive areas of the brain, but also the self-esteem and independence of those who suffer from them. In addition, they generate great concern among family members and caregivers, due to the progressive loss of self-sufficiency of the patient.

On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, the façade of the Town Hall will be illuminated in green hope on Saturday 21st.