ESTABLISHMENT AND AIMS
Turkish Alzheimer Association is a non-governmental organization that has been founded by the carers
of Alzheimer patients in 1997 and medical doctors specialized in the field of this disease. The Association
is operating with 11 branch offices throughout the country and 2 of these branches are resident on 2
sides of Istanbul, while the others serve the patients and their carers in Ankara, İzmir, Mersin, Eskişehir,
Denizli, Samsun, Kayseri, Erzurum and Bursa. Turkish Alzheimer Association embraces 1200 members.
The top priority of our Organization is to escalate the public awareness of Alzheimer disease and its
treatment and to provide education and training both to professional carers and patient relatives and to
elevate the quality of life for both patients and their relatives. In this context, Alzheimer patients and
their carers are provided with medical support, training, social support in many different domains
and psychological support, through the cooperation of expert physicians and volunteers. All services
offered by Turkish Alzheimer Association are free of charge.
Turkish Alzheimer Association operates in collaboration with the Ministry of Family and Social Policies
and the president of our Association, is a member of the Advisory Board of Disabled and Senior Services
General Directorate, affiliated with the Ministry. She has been conducting research and training work for
8 years, to improve the life standards of the elderly resident in the Kayışdağı Darülaceze retirement
home and has been striving to ensure proper treatment to them.
Turkish Alzheimer Association is a member of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) established in
1994, the most effective non-governmental organization in the fight for Alzheimer disease. ADI, which
serves as an umbrella organization for 84 active member organizations worldwide, has started Twinning
Programme in 2005, with the purpose of enhancing cooperation between members, financial support,
supplementary material, guidance and training. Turkish Alzheimer Association has been twinned with
German Alzheimer Association within this Programme, with the target of exchange of knowhow and
experience between the two members.
Our Association is also a member of Alzheimer Europe, which has 36 European associations as members.
Alzheimer Europe, is also a non-governmental organization that puts tremendous effort to raise
awareness about all types of dementia. Thus, Turkish Alzheimer Association has the opportunity to join
forces and team up with European Alzheimer associations.
