Support for People with Dementia Now Also Available in the Olpe Area
Dementia Navigators support people with dementia and their families in making important decisions about self-determined health care (from left to right): Stefanie Kremer from the Alzheimer’s Association of Siegen-Wittgenstein, Manuela Kremer from the Siegerland Health Region, and Helene Böhm from the Caritas Association in South Westphalia.
People with dementia and their families and caregivers face many questions in their daily lives: What support is available? What medical, nursing, or social services can help? And how can important decisions about the future be made as independently as possible? The DECIDE-2 research project at the University of Siegen addresses these issues by providing targeted support to those affected. The project has been running since 2025 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) with 1.35 million euros. It is now being expanded to the Olpe area.
Support is provided as part of what is known as Dementia Care Management (DeCM): specially trained dementia navigators visit project participants at home on multiple occasions. Together, they first determine what kind of support is needed in the participant’s daily life. An individualized care plan is then developed, and participants receive assistance in making decisions about their future treatment and care. The dementia navigators advise on implementing the plan and, if necessary, connect participants with appropriate support services in the region. The service is free of charge for participants. The effectiveness of this decision-making support is being investigated by the research team at the University of Siegen as part of a controlled study.
Since the project began in 2025, 83 people have already received guidance and support. Now, people from the Olpe area can also participate in the program: We are seeking individuals with mild to moderate dementia as well as those with early-stage memory impairments. Participation is also possible if dementia is suspected—the necessary diagnostic testing will then be conducted as part of the study. Since the dementia navigators will visit study participants at home on multiple occasions, participants should live within a 35- to 40-minute drive of Siegen.
DECIDE-2 is being conducted in close collaboration with regional partners from the “Demenzlotsen Siegen-Wittgenstein” network. These include, among others, the Alzheimer’s Association of Siegen-Wittgenstein, the Caritas Association in Southwest Westphalia, the Siegerland Health Region, and Siegen University Hospital. The perspectives of people with dementia, as well as those of their family members and caregivers, are also incorporated into the research: The University of Siegen works closely with two dementia advisory boards, which meet regularly and exchange ideas with the project team.
People with dementia, individuals with memory problems, and their family members and trusted contacts are warmly invited to learn more about DECIDE-2 and ask questions.
Registration to participate in the study is open until the end of 2026. If you are interested or have questions, please contact:
Dr. Anna Theile-Schürholz
University of Siegen, Research Associate
Email:anna.theile@uni-siegen.de
Phone: 0271 740-5253
