Bainbridge: Australia continues to stand alongside Lebanon during its time of need
The Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (IDRAAC) held a graduation ceremony today at the St. Georges Hospital University Medical Center in Achrafieh for the trained professional caregivers for Alzheimer’s and Dementia. These trained caregivers followed an intensive training program within the “Addressing the needs of a Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Group: The Alzheimer’s Patients” project, which was implemented by IDRAAC with the support of the Australian Government and in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Association Lebanon.
The ceremony was held under the patronage of the Ambassador of Australia to Lebanon, Mrs. Rebekah Grindlay represented by Mrs. Megan Bainbridge, Deputy Head of Mission in the presence of Dr. Iskandar Nehme, Medical Director of the St Georges Hospital University Medical Center and the trained professional caregivers.
Elie Karam
In his welcome speech, Dr. Elie Karam, President of IDRAAC, presented the history of IDRAAC and its main activities. Established in 1982, IDRAAC was the first non-governmental organization in Lebanon dedicated to the mental health of all groups. Its mission is to conduct research and studies related to mental health, where it has more than 235 published scientific research articles, in addition to raising awareness on the importance of mental health as a basic human right, providing treatment for all age groups, building capacities, and implementing community projects, including the “Addressing the needs of a Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Group: The Alzheimer’s Patients” project.
Dr. Karam also mentioned Australia’s role as a “leading force in research and mental health and how it applies its findings into the help of its communities”. “In addition, it has built strong research in Alzheimer’s through identifying biomarkers and trying to look at nutrients that could prevent Alzheimer’s”.
Megan Bainbridge
Mrs. Megan Bainbridge, Deputy Head of Mission, represented the Ambassador of Australia to Lebanon Mrs. Rebekah Grindlay. In her speech she mentioned that “Australia has funded an earlier training program in 2017” and emphasized that the program “will empower these graduates with new employment opportunities and improve the lives of those living with Alzheimer’s in Lebanon”.
She mentioned that Australia “has provided more than AU$ 100 million of support to Lebanon over the past 5 years (2017-2021) and continues to stand alongside Lebanon during its time of need, as these fantastic caregivers do every day for those they look after”. She also added that “during the tough times Lebanon is facing, it is so important that the most vulnerable in society receive the support they need”.
Georges Karam
The President of the Alzheimer’s Association Lebanon, and senior member of IDRAAC, Dr. Georges Karam, gave an overview on the project which was supported by the Australian Embassy’s Direct Aid Program (DAP) and noted in his presentation that “98 percent of people with Alzheimer’s in Lebanon are still living in their homes, posing great challenges to their caregivers (as per the statistics of the Alzheimer’s Association Lebanon).” He also pointed that “some family members have to stop working to take care of the person with Alzheimer’s in their family, while others are unable to deal with caregiver burden and stress, or cannot afford hiring expensive professional nurses especially when they are caring for men.”
He added that “For cultural, religious and physical reasons, men suffering from dementia are expected to be taken care of by men and this project opens job opportunities for young men while supporting families of patients with Alzheimer’s.”
He explained that “the training included 20 men aged between of 19 and 68, (average age = 33 years). They followed an intensive course on providing basic care for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as problem solving and best practices.” He explained that the course “focused on specific learning objectives and skills, including personal care, cognitive skills activities, physical and recreational activities, risk assessment techniques, safety procedures, prevention, active communication and problem solving.”
The project “provided an opportunity for a group of men to be trained for free to work as certified caregivers for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, with the aim of meeting the needs of patients in their homes, avoiding their placement in care institutions, and reducing the stress and burden that caregivers and family members face while allowing family members to stay in their jobs.”
He stressed that “this project opens job opportunities for young people and at the same time provides support for the families of Alzheimer’s patients.”
Graduation Ceremony
At the end of the event, certificates were distributed to the trainees who successfully completed their training.