Dementia Care is a Social Promotion Association with registered office in the Municipality of Nicotera, Prov. of VV, via Tondo, which operates throughout the entire territory of the Calabria Region and also nationally and internationally. The Association is registered with RUNTS.

The association aims to work in favor of people with different abilities by promoting and implementing any action that leads to the improvement of the quality of life, in particular, of people suffering from neurodegenerative syndromes and other forms of cognitive decline and deterioration of various types and degrees (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia) extending these actions also to their family members and caregivers who are dedicated to caring for these patients.

The specific activities that the association carries out are:

1. Promotion of initiatives aimed at the psychophysical well-being of the person through the creation of specific spaces and activities aimed at particularly encouraging the implementation and dissemination of innovative therapeutic and rehabilitative approaches in order to promote integration in the family context as much as possible, social, work;

2. Offer of support services within work teams in order to promote psychophysical well-being and a harmonious, rewarding and collaborative work environment.

3. Promotion of initiatives aimed at increasing and improving the professionalism of the operators responsible for the care and assistance of these patients, also through appropriate professional development activities.

4. Support actions and psychological and social assistance for the families in which people with the aforementioned problems live, as well as for the caregivers responsible for providing assistance;

5. Training activities aimed at caregivers and family members of patients, in order to improve their skills in carrying out care functions;

6. Promotion of listening centers and mutual self-help initiatives to encourage solidarity between families and social relations in local communities;

7. Collaboration with the local health and social care teams responsible for community services and home services or at residential and semi-residential facilities, also through the organization of appropriate training activities for the aforementioned operators;

8. Information and awareness among public opinion and figures professionally involved in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias;

9. Collaboration with research bodies for the study of the causes, prevention, assistance and therapy regarding people suffering from dementia and other similar pathologies;

10. Protection of the rights of the patient and his family for the purpose of improving legislation and the practice of public structures towards such patients, as well as promotion of socio-cultural initiatives and events, conferences, conferences in order to disseminate information on these problems ;

11. Promotion of pilot centers for diagnosis and assistance and for the training of specialized socio-health personnel.

12. Development of innovative forms in the field of co-programming and co-design with public and private bodies and third sector organisations;

13. Organization of conferences and events regarding psychological, pedagogical and socio-health issues relating to problems related to neurodegenerative diseases and other similar pathologies.

Team: 

Vittoria Vardè Psychologist-psychotherapist; Expert in Clinical Neuropsychology.

Education and training:

Degree in Psychology obtained at the University of Messina in 2009, with 110/110 cum laude.

Enrolled in the professional register of Psychologists of Calabria  with number 1200.

Specialization in Psychotherapy, obtained at the Institute of Humanistic Existential Psychology “Luigi de Marchi” Rome with 70/70 cum laude, November 2012.

II level University Master in Pain Therapy and Palliative Care, University of Messina, November 2021.

II level University Master’s Degree in Clinical Neuropsychology and Evaluation – Developmental Age, Adults, Elderly, at the Skinner Institute-European University Rome, March 2018.

II level University Master’s Degree in Psychodiagnosis and Psychological Evaluation, Lumsa University Rome, March 2014.

Professional experiences

Freelance activity: Psychotherapy; Psycho-education activities for caregivers; Neuropsychological Evaluation; Rehabilitation and cognitive stimulation.

Psychologist Mater Domini Catanzaro Hospital-University, project “Experimentation, evaluation and dissemination of tele-rehabilitation interventions aimed at guaranteeing a targeted rehabilitation project, with the aim of improving participation, inclusion and quality of life of the patient”.

Coordinator of the Alzheimer coffee Nicotera (VV).

Psychologist at the Territorial Area of Locri – Lead Municipality.

Teaching activity

Lecturer at the Psychotherapy training school for psychologists and doctors. School of Psychotherapy Existential Humanities (IPUE), recognized by MIUR.

Further information

Coordinator of the “Disability and Mental Health” Technical Table – Zone Plan – Territorial Area of Locri.

Member of the Italian Association of Psychogeriatrics AIP.

Councilor of the Italian Association of Psychogeriatrics AIP_ Calabria section.

Member of the SINdem Association.

SINdem Calabria Regional Section Secretary.

Member of the Regional Coordination of Alzheimer Cafés in the Calabria Region.

Agata Bongiorno, Social Worker

Education and training

Master’s degree in “Planning and management of social policies and services in the Mediterranean area” obtained at the “Dante Alighieri” University for Foreigners of Reggio Calabria with vote 92/110.

I level annual master’s degree in teaching, the function of the teacher and the integration of pupils with special educational needs, with a score of 104/110, obtained at the Fidia Academy of Fine Arts in Stefanaconi (VV) in the year 2019.

Professional experiences

Social Worker PON Program Inclusion: Preparation of interventions in favor of individuals and families for the prevention, support and recovery of situations of need and the promotion of new social resources; – taking charge, planning, evaluation and monitoring, social function for multidimensional evaluation, placements in residential structures and day centres; planning of social assistance home care interventions and proximity services; – formulation, implementation and monitoring of individualized care projects aimed at social and work inclusion; – construction of a network between public and private social subjects in order to favor inter-institutional collaboration and the strengthening of a territorial network of interventions and services for the protection, inclusion and activation of people and their respective families .

Coordinator of the activities relating to the SAD and ADI services based on the PAC Non Self-sufficient Elderly funds.

Coordinator of the “Disability and Mental Health” Technical Table – Zone Plan – Territorial Area of Locri.