Salzburg expands dementia support and training

The City of Salzburg plans to improve how people with dementia are treated by increasing advice for relatives, businesses and public institutions, ORF reported. Experts expect the number of people affected to rise by more than a third over the next 10 years.

The increase is mainly due to the ageing population, said Roswitha Moik-Hotter of the city’s dementia counselling service. She said one person’s illness affects their entire social environment, not just their family. “You can assume that 10 people are affected for every person with dementia,” she said.

Ulrich Gsenger of Salzburg Diakoniewerk said dealing with people with dementia was also a challenge for businesses. He provides dementia counselling for the city to organisations including the police, hearing aid specialists and banks.

At banks, the advice focuses on communication and how to deal with a client who repeatedly returns, says they have no money in their account and becomes distressed, Gsenger said. His presentations for hearing aid specialists cover issues such as taking an impression of a person’s ear and how to touch people with dementia.

The City of Salzburg provides 30,000 euros a year for the counselling.

Next week, the city will promote a sensitive approach to dementia through events held as part of Salzburg Dementia Week, under the title “Confetti in the Head”.