Rome – Alzheimer, a conference, a manual and an IT platform for volunteers

It will be held on Wednesday 16 June, starting at 5pm.30 at the Orthopedics and Physiatry Classroom of the La Sapienza University of Rome (entrance P.le Aldo Moro 5a) the conference-debate: “Social solidarity and health: the role of volunteering” during which the Ozanam Foundation will present an operating manual for volunteers and families of Alzheimer’s patients, will anticipate the contents of an IT platform for volunteer counseling and will promote a multi-voiced debate on the role of volunteering in healthcare.

They will be present the professor. Giuseppe Chinnici, President of the Ozanam Foundation, Prof. Eugenio Gaudio, Rector of the University La Sapienza, S.AND. Msgr.

Alessandro Plotti, Bishop Emeritus of Pisa and Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Foundation, Father Gregory Gay, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, Prof. Francesco Bonini, magnificent rector of the Lumsa University of Rome, the Geriatra prof. Francesco Marigliano, the health statistician Prof. Angelo Serio, the psychiatrist Dr.

Daniele Sadun and the psychoanalyst Dr.Lucia Monterosa, authors of the manual.

They will participate in the debate on the value of volunteering in healthcare the Hon. Pino Pisicchio, President of the Mixed Group of the Chamber of Deputies, the Hon. Renzo Carella, Member of the Finance Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, Sen. Stefano DeLillo and the Hon. Ilaria Piccolo, Councilor of Roma Capitale, Prof.

Mauro Cacciafesta, Professor of Geriatrics at La Sapienza University, Prof. Roberto Cipriani, Full Professor of Sociology at the Roma Tre University, Prof. Gennaro Colangelo, Professor at the LUMSA University and Dr.

Roberto Fattorini, President of the Central Council of Rome of the Society of San Vincenzo De Paoli.

“Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia which, in Italy, afflicts over a million patients with an annual increase of about 150.000 new cases. According to WHO data, the number of people with dementia is expected to double every 20 years, from 36 million in 2010 to 115 million in 2050, with health and social costs estimated at 604 billion dollars, a figure which represents approximately #8217;1% of world GDP”, explained Prof. Chinnici, President of the Ozanam Foundation.

“The Ozanam Foundation, through the publication of an operating manual for volunteers involved in the assistance of Alzheimer’s patients, intends to contribute to improving the assistance network around the patient and his family to face the long and difficult path of the disease. There is the need for a territorial network in step with the times that includes family doctor, specialists, reference centers, home care, day centers, definitive hospitalizations and volunteers prepared capable of helping families. For our part, we are preparing an IT platform for the remote connection between the teachers of our course and the volunteers who wish to have clarifications”, continued Chinnici.

The Blessed Frederick Ozanam Foundation – San Vincenzo De Paoli Ente Morale Onlus was born in 1999 on the initiative of the Society of San Vincenzo De Paoli and the Vincentian Volunteer Groups with the aim of promoting the culture of social solidarity by turning its attention above all to the wide world of volunteering. Just as Blessed Federico Ozanam did during his short life, founder of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, who consecrated himself to the poor and to volunteering and whose message, always timely, has reached every corner of the world. Since 1999, the position of President of the Foundation has been held by Prof. Francesco Paolo Casavola, former president of the Constitutional Court, the prof.

Giuseppe Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, former magnificent rector of the Lumsa University and Giuseppe Chinnici, professor at the Lumsa University. Over the years, research, studies, documents and publications on social solidarity and on the protection of civil rights, conferences and seminars of cultural and technical training for voluntary entertainers have been produced. More specifically, the Foundation has dealt with the social problem of prisons, the juvenile discomfort and violence against women.

The studies and essays produced were supervised by an authoritative scientific committee composed of university teachers and experts with different skills.