New EU alzheimers initiative must focus on specific needs needs of women

Posted by Bronwen Maher on September 22, 2010 at 06:07 PM

The proposed new EU Initiative on Alzheimers must focus on the specific needs of women. Twice as many women as men in Europe are affected by the illness, according to Nessa Childers MEP with the burden of care often falling on women who neglect their own health, quit jobs and risk poverty as a result of caring for an ill relative.

She said: “The EU accepts that the overall approach to alzheimers which affects over 7.3 million citizens must be better co-ordinated across the Member States. A core part of the new EU Initiative on Alzheimers on which I am working must focus on the specific needs of women, reflecting the reality of the prevalence rates and the burden of care and particular impact caring for a relative or friend with Alzheimers has on a woman’s social and economic circumstances and prospects.”

“I support the notion that flexible work policies should be introduced across the Member States to address both the needs of people with Alzheimers and dementia and to ensure that those with the responsibility for caring can get the time off required when they need it while retaining their job.

“An official paid leave scheme for people caring for a dependant person, modeled to a point on the existing parental leave system should also be considered. There is a strong and compelling argument for a measure such as this where dependant persons can get the same recognition and compensation as parents taking some time off for their children.

“The debate on the new Alzheimers initiative should also consider how to ensure that a system can be developed where a carers pension entitlements would not be unduly affected by the requirement to take time out from employment in order to fulfill the valuable role of a carer. This matter should be considered fully in the context of the European Commission Green Paper on pensions,” Nessa Childers concluded.”

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