Italy Leaders Inaugurate Center for Neurocognitive Disorders and Dementia

On Monday, July 29, the Adventist Nursing Home Casa Mia inaugurated its new center dedicated to the treatment of cognitive decline in the elderly in Forlì, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

The center uses some particularly creative projects such as the Snoezelen room, for multisensory stimulation, aimed at reducing states of psychomotor agitation; the living room equipped with a fireplace; the corner dedicated to typical Romagna regional cuisine, where the famous and delicious “minestre” (soups) are prepared as occupational therapy. It also includes an aromatic and musical garden; a notions store; and a travel room that reproduces a train experience, with the reconstruction of a compartment animated by videos and sensory elements of movement and sounds.

Key guests who attended the event were the outgoing president of the Emilia Romagna region and newly elected European Parliament deputy Stefano Bonaccini; the president of the province of Forlì-Cesena and mayor of Cesena Enzo Lattuca; the mayor of Forlì, Gianluca Zattini; and the treasurer of the Italian Union of Adventist Churches, Roberto Buonaugurio. 
Center director Giovanni Benini recalled the path taken in the realization of the project and thanked the supporters who made it possible, particularly the ottopermille fund of the Adventist Church and the cinquepermille fund of Adventist Social Welfare. The center houses eight residents in personalized rooms, cared for by four people.

About Casa Mia

Casa Mia was established four decades ago as a project seeking to accommodate self-sufficient elderly people. Over the years, various transformations have led to structural adaptations and the inclusion of elderly residents who are not self-sufficient, in response to the area’s new and growing needs. The facility has been modified and enlarged, becoming a referral center for people with various needs.

Inaugurated in 1983, the facility has undergone profound changes and, today, while maintaining a close link with its founding principles, Casa Mia is extending its services. Regional church leaders explained that it has gone through a process of professionalization and staff qualification to guarantee services and interventions tailored to the different needs of its residents.

Casa Mia has been affiliated with the Regional Health Service since 1997. The institution is also a member of the Europe-based AdventCare Network, which seeks to provide support and expertise to health organizations and services in line with the Adventist health message. According to its stated goal, its aim is “to share God’s love through the example of the ministry of Jesus Christ, by providing physical, mental, social, and spiritual healing and well-being.”

This story is based on the version posted on the Inter-European Division news site. The original article was posted by Hope Media Italia.