The case in summary: – The idea for the dementia school in Grimstad was taken from Aalborg in Denmark.- The school has received NOK 1.4 million for research from Stiftelsen Dam.- Two researchers from the Center for care research, south at UIA have followed the school for two years.- The aim of the research is to find out whether pupils at the school cope better than other people with dementia. – The researchers will present their findings from two years of observation in the new year. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I feel privileged to be able to go to this school, says Torunn Sangvik Fosseli (73) and smiles warmly. She sits at the table with the other students at the Adult School for patients with dementia in Grimstad. – My family also notices that it is good for me to come here and practice everyday things, she says. The Dementia School is Norway’s first of its kind, and provides training to people with early stage dementia on how to cope with everyday life. The pupils go to school twice a week. For Torunn Sangvik Fosseli, the school in Grimstad has only been positive. She notices that her joy in life increases. The social interaction is probably as important as the teaching at the dementia school in Grimstad. The students begin the day by reading texts and singing well-known songs. Master everyday life The pupils are singing when news comes to visit. All have name tags on their chests. They have a desire for coping with life and socializing in common. – I want to be able to live at home for as long as possible and fend for myself, says Sangvik Fosseli. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2018, and feels strong and in good shape. Who is the Adult School for: you who have a dementia disease you who want to train your memory you who want to look after the functions of daily life for as long as possible you who want knowledge about dementia, exchange experiences and meet like-minded people you who want physical activity Source: The Adult School in Grimstad. Over 100,000 people live with dementia in Norway today, and it is expected to more than double by the year 2050 due to the increasing number of elderly people, according to FHI. The timetable includes cognitive training and physical activity, nutritional training and socializing. – It is important for students to know what the disease is. When the memory is bad, the signs of the disease often have to be repeated. It gives students greater understanding if something is demanding or incomprehensible, says Birgitte Nærdal, nurse and dementia coordinator in Grimstad. The school opened in 2019, and works so that students can go there as long as they benefit from it, or until they need another offer. Practicing the pancake recipe. Simple everyday things must be practiced and can keep dementia at bay. Photo: Eirik Rognaldsen / news Making lunch and setting the table Everyday tasks such as making coffee and setting a table can easily be forgotten by people with dementia. In the classroom, singing has now been replaced by memory training. – They will cut bread and make lunch. Then they have balance and strength training, explains Berit Westbye, one of the project managers at the Adult School. Birgitte Nærdal (tv) and Berit Westbye (th) have followed the school since its inception and are constantly being contacted by other municipalities who want the same offer. Photo: Elisabeth Sandve / news According to Westbye, one of the school’s goals is for students to maintain what they already master. She explains that dementia only goes one way, but the school wants them to be able to stay better for a little longer. – The next of kin are also satisfied. They find that the pupils come home tired but happy. Everyone experiences mastery and that it has been meaningful, she says. There is a similar course for people with dementia in Rogaland. But, it is digital and runs over 12 weeks. – I believe that this offer should have been available throughout the country, says Westbye firmly. The parties in the Storting do not fully agree on that. The Conservatives want dementia schools. There are few school facilities like the one in Grimtad, for people with dementia. The Conservative Party has previously proposed that the government should facilitate more dementia schools, but this has been rejected. – This is a completely unique offer, and we hope there will be a majority when it comes up for consideration in the Storting again, says Erlend Svardal Bøe, in the health committee for the Conservative Party. The Conservative Party will present the proposal to the Storting tomorrow, Friday. – As an interest organization for people with dementia, we are keen to gain experience from such measures, to see if it has an effect that means that this should become a broad offer, says General Secretary Mina Gerhardsen of the National Association for Public Health. Photo: Ilja C. Hendel The National Association for Public Health is an interest organization for people with dementia. General secretary Mina Gerhardsen comments on the school as follows: – This is very exciting work. Several other countries are working on different versions of this, from active brain training to courses on coping with one’s own existence with this disease. While we wait for medical breakthroughs that provide a cure for dementia, we need to look for other ways that can contribute to better lives for those affected. This could be one of those ways, she says. Researching the school’s impact The idea behind the dementia school was taken from Aalborg in Denmark, where they have a similar offer. The school in Grimstad is a joint venture between Grimstad municipality, the Directorate of Health and the state administrator. An amount of millions has also been given for research at the school. – Two researchers from the Center for Care Research at UIA have followed the school for two years. The aim is to find out whether pupils at the school manage better than other people with dementia, says Westbye. In the new year, the researchers present their findings from two years of observing the pupils at the school. Torunn Sangvik Fosseli puts puzzles to train the brain. She is a student at the dementia school in Grimstad. Photo: Elisabeth Sandve / news At the dementia school, the day begins to move towards lunch and the students look forward to a chat break. – I haven’t skipped a day. This keeps us fresher for longer and I have loved this offer from the start, says Torunn Sangvik Fosseli.
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– An offer that gives hope and coping – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
