Dementia knowledge portal as key to enhancing expertise in health care

New dementia library digiDEM Bayern Demenzbibliothek^®

Acquire knowledge, recognize dementia in its early stages, improve quality of life: the new digiDEM Bayern Demenzbibliothek^® provides a comprehensive and open source knowledge portal that provides sound, scientifically proven, and clearly understandable information all about dementia to a wide audience. The aim of the new service offered by digiDEM Bayern is to increase the general public’s expertise regarding health care, to raise awareness of the risks of dementia, to contribute towards the early diagnosis of dementia, and to improve the situation regarding care both for people with dementia and their family caregivers.

The digiDEM Bayern Demenzbibliothek^® dementia library is aimed at people with slight cognitive impairments and dementia, family caregivers, specialists, volunteers, decision-makers in health care and all interested citizens. Ranging from practical everyday tips to the latest scientific findings, the library provides scientifically proven, quality-assured content that has been carefully selected by digiDEM Bayern scientists and presented in an easily understandable way.

Specialized knowledge for everyone

Alongside numerous current articles from national and international science and research, the digiDEM Bayern Demenzbibliothek^® also includes the digiDEM Bayern Science Watch live webinars in which prestigious specialists share their knowledge. Scientific publications and contributions to conferences from digiDEM Bayern researchers are also available. Research findings are incorporated directly into the content of the online library, ensuring that users remain up to date with the latest research. “Our library makes specialized knowledge available to everyone, irrespective of their previous knowledge or professional background,” underlines the researcher and digiDEM Bayern project manager Prof. Dr. Elmar Gräßel.

Acquiring and enhancing expertise in health care

“The digiDEM Bayern Demenzbibliothek^® gives everyone the opportunity to better understand the complex and challenging illness dementia. It helps them gain valuable insights, providing a wealth of information and the opportunity to read up all about the topic,” says Prof. Dr. Peter Kolominsky-Rabas, neurologist and digiDEM Bayern project manager. The digiDEM Bayern-Online-Demenzbibliothek^® helps people enhance their knowledge of dementia, better assess their own risk of dementia, and actively take preventative measures.

This allows those affected and their families to receive the required support quicker and cope better with daily life. “Reading up on health issues helps people learn to evaluate information accurately and to apply what they have learned in their daily lives. It is a decisive step towards taking better care of their own health,” explains Prof. Dr. Elmar Gräßel. Taking the time to find out information not only helps you cope better with illnesses, it also helps you take active preventative measures.

Destigmatizing dementia

The digiDEM Bayern Demenzbibliothek^® library is aimed at helping to destigmatize dementia in our society. The huge variety of topics and texts helps to reduce the stigma attached to the topic of dementia “We are hoping to educate people through raising awareness and would like to contribute to the early diagnosis of dementia,” stresses Prof. Dr. Peter Kolominsky-Rabas. The portal does not only offer facts on risk factors and disease progression, it also gives practical tips and recommendations for daily life.

Higher quality of life

digiDEM Bayern aims to improve the care and quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers, especially in the context of home care. The new online dementia library is a central component on the way towards greater awareness, prevention and participation in society – and towards reducing stigma in society, at work and in personal life.

digiDEM is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Public Health and Care Services.

Further information:

Ilona Hörath
Press spokesperson digiDEM
Phone:+49 163 883 884 5
ilona.hoerath@fau.de