Bari marks 10 years of the "Dementia Friendly Community" initiative

On 22 May 2026 the Teatro Kursaal Santalucia in Bari will host the national conference "Ten years of Dementia Friendly Community. From building to collective responsibility", promoted by the Federazione Alzheimer Italia in collaboration with Alzheimer Bari ODV. The event highlights a decade of work aimed at making cities and territories more welcoming for people living with dementia.

• Date and venue: 22 May 2026, Teatro Kursaal Santalucia, Bari.
• National network: more than 70 Dementia-Friendly Communities active across 36 provinces and 13 regions.
• Impact: about 10,000 people reached and over 7,700 citizens trained; more than 200 initiatives co-designed with people with dementia.
• Program: panels and testimonies on social inclusion, arts-based approaches, university experiences and the Dementia Friendly Hospital model.
• Award: afternoon presentation of the "Realtà Inclusive" Prize to Cinema Ariston in Trieste for the "Un cinema per Amico" project.

An exhibition with images and testimonies from communities around Italy will be on display. Organisers stress that building dementia-friendly communities strengthens social cohesion, raises awareness and turns care into a shared responsibility involving public services, schools, businesses and citizens.