Memory disorders are a worldwide public health phenomenon. The estimated number of people with memory disorders is over 55 million, and the number is constantly increasing as people live to be older. The Alzheimer Europe Conference showcases current research on memory disorders and the best practices for preventing and treating memory disorders and rehabilitating people suffering from them, with a focus on patient rights and the effects that memory disorders have on society. The conference also offers networking opportunities to researchers, people working with memory-related issues, organisations and companies.
The conference consists of expert lectures and discussions and showcases of working methods. The programme also includes speeches by people with memory disorders and their close relatives. The conference is intended for professionals, researchers, organisation representatives, policymakers and officials who work with topics related to memory, but everyone interested in memory disorders is welcome to attend for the price of an admission fee. Some of the programme will also be in Finnish, in addition to English.
Finnish research and knowledge of memory disorders is internationally esteemed
Alzheimer Europe is an annual event organised in a different part of Europe each time. Finnish research and practical knowledge of memory disorders is well-respected both in Europe and globally, and the conference provides an excellent opportunity of showcasing them to the international audience. The conference was previously held in Finland in the late 1990s, and Finnish research and competence on memory disorders has developed notably since then. This year, the 33rd conference will bring together almost a thousand attendees from around Europe, in addition to about a hundred online attendees. The largest group of attendees, almost 200 persons, will be from Finland.
Dementia Friend sessions help understand people with memory disorders
Memory disorders affect about a million people in Finland: about 200,000 people with memory disorders and their family and friends. If you are concerned about your memory or have questions about your loved one’s memory disorder diagnosis, the Alzheimer Society can provide information, support and services.
The Alzheimer Society of Finland also organises information sessions on how to pay attention to people with memory disorders in daily life. The Dementia Friend online materials take about 30 minutes to complete. They are suitable for everyone who is interested in memory disorders and the everyday lives of people with memory disorders. The information session is an international working method that aims to make understanding memory disorders and the people suffering from them a civic skill. The education materials go through the five key aspects of memory disorders that everyone should know. They also give advice on how to interact with people with memory disorders in a respectful and warm manner. You also get a badge for completing the Dementia Friend information session.
The Alzheimer Europe Conference will also train its customer service representatives to interact with people with memory disorders. The education sessions aimed specifically at this group provide practical tips and methods for interacting with customers with memory disorders.
Helsinki is a functional and safe congress location
About 160 international and academic congresses were held in Helsinki in 2022. They made up 40% of all international congresses held in Finland. Their number of attendees was close to 30,000 in Helsinki last year.
Alzheimer Europe is an excellent example of the realisation of the Helsinki City Strategy, which places great importance on various events for building the appeal of Helsinki. Internationally, Helsinki is seen as a functional and safe location for organising a congress. Helsinki wants to play a larger role in the organisation of major culture and sports events and large international congresses together with professionals in the field. Events such as Alzheimer Europe are essential for allowing the city to grow, as they bring in current information from various fields while also providing income for Helsinki-based companies and making Helsinki better known. Helsinki will work for the long-term goal of attracting major congresses in the future, as well.
Congress host cities are also important for the event organisers, who increasingly often wish to have a long-term impact on the venue city. Examples of the congresses’ impact include building local research networks, creating innovations, developing local competencies and attracting professionals, which make it worthwhile for the congress venue cities to show their best sides to the congress participants.