Under the directorship of Dr. Jane L. Mahakian, Founder of Alzheimer’s Care Armenia (ACA), ACA has partnered with Mission Armenia (NGO) to establish the Armenia National Alzheimer’s Caregiver Helpline beginning September 2019. The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Helpline has the endorsement of the Republic of Armenia Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
The National Alzheimer’s Caregiver Helpline is a sustainable service available to family members and other caregivers who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias in Armenia. The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Helpline will have trained psychologists available Monday-Friday who will provide the most up-to-date information, education and support for callers to the Helpline.
Callers can obtain disease education, referrals to specialists such as neurologists, supportive services and consultation to discuss behavioral strategies and best approaches.
The Alzheimer’s Care Helpline will be serve as a “first stop” for caregivers in their journey with a loved one with a dementia. Up until recently, little attention has been given to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in Armenia.
“In Armenia, dementia is still often treated as a mental illness,” comments Dr. Jane Mahakian, Ph.D., Founder of Alzheimer’s Care Armenia. “This is just one of the many obstacles we’re working to overcome by making a concerted, organized effort toward creating sustainable programs and services.”
The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Helpline will play a pivotal role in addressing the stigma associated with having a neurocognitive disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease by providing information and education which is now available to all caregivers and others who are caring for a loved one with a dementia.
Alzheimer’s Care Armenia founded by Dr. Jane Mahakian in 2017 with the purpose of raising awareness and developing sustainable solutions for the care and treatment of people with Alzheimer’s disease. This is accomplished by creating programs and services, education and training to family caregivers, health care professionals and medical students and by working directly with Armenia’s institutions for the aged.
