Facts and Figures According to estimates by INE*, in 2007 Portugal had 26% of seniors (65 years or older) for every 100 people in working age. By 2025, the figure could raise to 34% and in 2050 to 58%. Most of older people in Portugal do not have the health cares and the social support they need. (2008: 27, INE - Population and Society)

In 2005, the European Commission estimated people with dementia in Portugal, of which with Alzheimer's disease. Yet, the real number is unknown due to the lack of epidemiological studies.

Lobbying for Change The experience of Alzheimer Portugal

ALZHEIMER PORTUGAL was founded in 1988, to improve the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s and their carers, mainly through information. In 2003 opened the first Day Care Centre and Home Care Service in Portugal, specifically created for people with dementia.

ALZHEIMER PORTUGAL kept growing in associates, services and partnerships with private and public organizations – New openings: 2 Home Care Service 1 Nursing Home 3 Day Care Centre BUT… we can’t reach everyone who needs support.

Why Lobby? What is our mission? What are our limits? Can we improve the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s and their carers? Is it reasonable to keep increasing human resources and premises costs? Can we keep a financial balance? Can we keep independent from those we want to lobby?

We need to: Involve government and society; Influence laws and public policies; Attract media coverage and raise public awareness about our cause; Get our case on the political agenda; Mobilize external audience - public opinion Mobilize internal audience - associates, volunteers and donors.

Why Lobby? Public Health is highly political in Portugal, due to the bureaucracy. Government budgets are limited and Dementia is not a priority. There is no national plan for Alzheimer’s and no policy for dementia.

Reimbursement for specific drugs is only about 40% of its cost and must be prescribed by a psychiatry or neurologist. Merely a few private nursing homes are prepared to accept people with dementia and are usually very expensive.

Why Lobby Now… We have the experience on the Services: Day Care Centre, Home Support Service, Social and Psychological support, Training, Information and Communication. We have the experience on the networking: Partnerships with Government, NGO’s, Municipalities, Universities, Pharmaceutical industry, Health professionals, etc.

We have raised the level of our Lobby on Portuguese MEP’s to support Alzheimer Europe initiatives: In March, only 3 Portuguese MEP´s have signed the Paris Declaration. By December 2007, the number was already 10 MEP´s; out of 24 Portuguese Members of the European Parliament signed the Written Declaration 80/2008.

By promoting political action on Dementia as a European priority, we started defending action on Dementia as a National priority. Lobbying for a National Dementia Plan is our main goal, and ALZHEIMER PORTUGAL is determined to make dementia a national health priority.

FUTURE LOBBY INICIATIVES Exhibition in the Portuguese Parliament January 2010; Meetings with Portuguese MP’s; Plenary session in the Portuguese Parliament; Public campaign with media support; Written petition for a National Dementia Plan.

Move from the Personal to the Political but never forget to add the Human face. This is about PEOPLE, not about figures.