The Association of Relatives of Alzheimer's Patients of Cantabria (AFAC) has the main objective to improve the quality of life of Alzheimer's patients and their families, offering resources that meet the needs of its members and Cantabrian society in general since 1993.

AFA Cantabria is a member of CEAFA, the Spanish Confederation of Associations of Relatives of Alzheimer's, a national NGO organisation, which has the mission to put Alzheimer's on the National political agenda, seeking the necessary social commitment, advocating for and disseminating the knowledge gained from to representation of patients and their families, who live with Alzheimer's, defending their interests, needs and rights as well as providing direct care for Alzheimer's patients and their families.

The main activities of AFA Cantabria include: 

• Maintaining two Daycare centres: offering preventive, educational, sociocultural, and rehabilitative care to older adults with varying degrees of dependency, with the goal of promoting their independence and facilitating their continued residence in their homes. The speciality of these centres are that both of them provide a Restraint-Free Environment facilitating and improving the autonomy and quality of life of its users.
• Socio-family information and guidance service: social workers inform step in customers about the association, its services, and aspects related to the disease and  refer to other professionals based on demand, will be responsible for collecting social data, and will open a file.
• Psychological guidance service:- psychologists give information individual and/or group therapy on the progress of Alzheimer's disease and its impact on the caregiver's health, also equip family members with appropriate coping techniques and train them on how to manage the condition.
• Social support service: providing information on social and health allowances and benefits available for caregivers; provide information on ethical, institutional, and legal issues surrounding Alzheimer's disease.
• Torrelavega Services: offering care, support, and counselling services for families, and run cognitive stimulation workshops for people in the early stages of dementia in the city of Torrelavega.
• Training service: provide knowledge to the immigrant population about available care, information for family members who look after family members with Alzheimer's as well as raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease among the general population.
• Mutual aid groups: provide information about the disease and encourage an exchange of experiences; assist the process of accepting the disease and expressing emotions. Increase the ability to cope with difficult situations. Create a space for meeting and participation that prevents isolation.
• Memory Workshops: Early detection of dementia to differentiate between people with age-related memory loss and those whose memory disorders are caused by disorders such as dementia and depression. Change negative attitudes and stereotypes about the irreversibility of memory disorders or deficits. Promote the transfer of knowledge and habits acquired in training to daily life.
• Cognitive Stimulation Workshops: for people in the early stages of dementia living in Santander and Torrelavega. The workshops feature individualised exercises tailored to each individual's needs, enhancing various cognitive abilities such as calculation, writing, reading, attention and concentration, praxis, body image, language, orientation to reality, recollection, logical reasoning etc.
• APETTECE Dog-Assisted Therapy (Day Care Centers in Santander) involves stimulation through human-animal interaction to promote individual learning by the use of companion animals in therapeutic interventions aimed at fostering and promoting human health and well-being- a treatment for older adults with diverse needs.
• Communication activities: AFA Cantabria operates a website: https://www.afacantabria.com/ dedicated to provide information and various means of understanding Alzheimer's, which is visited by thousands from all over the world  

Issues publications e.g.: the "Guide for Alzheimer's Caregivers," published in collaboration with the Government of Cantabria. Maintaining media relations to raise awareness about the problems caused by brain issues, focusing on dementia and Alzheimer's and educate society in general. 

We look forward to working with AFAC as we share the same mission to improve services for people living with neuro-generative diseases and support their families and caregivers. We are positive that together we can go on a new journey and give meaning toaiming  awarenessraising on Alzheimer's and disseminate and utilise the new care models and best practices offered by advanced IT technologies and research. 

If you wish to learn more about JADE Health’s expanding stakeholder network and become a member, please visit:  JADE Health Stakeholders