'In the Rhine region, no topic is off-limits'
World Alzheimer's Day 2025: A Community Embraces Those Affected by Dementia
World Alzheimer's Day, held annually on September 21, is a global event that aims to raise awareness, provide education, and offer support to individuals with dementia and their families. This year, the district of Neuss, Germany, joined the movement with a series of events, one of which was held at the Biological Station Rhein-Kreis Neuss.
The event, described as "beautiful and well-attended" by Gino Fohr, Psychiatry Coordinator and head of the Self-Help Contact Point of Rhein-Kreis Neuss, was not explicitly a guided tour on the orchards, but it aimed for an intense sensory experience. Volunteers from the herb garden created a fragrant atmosphere between the beds, helping participants revive memories through external stimuli.
Manfred Steiner, a social pedagogue at the Demenz-Kompetenzzentrum "Memory Zentrum" in Neuss, stated that many skills and interests remain after a dementia diagnosis. The event demonstrated that these skills and interests can be fostered, as many participants' memories were triggered by remarks about the use of herbs.
In addition to the event at the Biological Station Rhein-Kreis Neuss, other events related to World Alzheimer's Day took place in the district. A dance café in Dormagen and a lecture on the importance of movement in dementia in Neuss were among these events.
Experts from the "Runder Tisch Demenz" network answered questions on the topic at the Neuss city library during World Alzheimer's Day. The community partnerships encouraged by organizations like Alzheimer's Disease International were evident in these local initiatives, with businesses and senior organizations promoting awareness through posters, educational materials, and screenings.
The event on World Alzheimer's Day was not only informative but also helped participants enjoy the present in the community. Gino Fohr described it as having many beautiful moments. The respectful atmosphere present during the event underscored the importance of initiating open conversations about dementia, as encapsulated in the 2025 World Alzheimer's Day theme: "Ask about Dementia. Ask about Alzheimer's."
World Alzheimer's Day has been honoring nearly 35 million people affected by Alzheimer's and dementia since mid-1994. Initiatives like those in Neuss contribute to breaking down barriers, increasing knowledge, and providing support, combining global advocacy with local engagement.
- The Demenz-Kompetenzzentrum "Memory Zentrum" in Neuss, recognizing the skills and interests that persist after a dementia diagnosis, could collaborate with a health-and-wellness company to create products or programs focused on mental-health and aging.
- As part of their corporate social responsibility, a science company specializing in plant-based therapeutics could sponsor research projects at the Biological Station Rhein-Kreis Neuss, exploring potential benefits for the cognitive health of individuals affected by Alzheimer's and dementia.
