The “Navigating life with Dementia” project successfully transitions into a sustainable phase

We are pleased to announce that the “Navigating life with Dementia” project, implemented over the past four years (2022–2024 and 2024–2025) by Zavod Krog in partnership with NGO Impuls from Montenegro, is continuing in a new, sustainably designed format. This marks an important milestone, as the project will not come to an end after the conclusion of project funding in December 2025, but will instead continue in an adapted form that will keep providing support to people living with dementia and their family members.

The continued implementation of key activities will be taken over by the partner organisation NGO Impuls from Nikšić, which will ensure that psychosocial support services remain accessible in the future. This transition represents a good practice example of sustainable project development in the field of social welfare, where knowledge, experience, and responsibility are gradually transferred to local organisations.

Supporting vulnerable groups in rural areas

A special focus will continue to be placed on rural areas, where access to support services is often limited. At the counselling centre in Plužine, psychosocial support will be provided to people living with dementia as well as to their caregivers and family members, who frequently face additional challenges such as social isolation, lack of information, and restricted access to professional support.

At the same time, activities in Nikšić will also continue, with the counselling centre operating with the support of two trained volunteers who will provide psychosocial assistance to people living with dementia and their families. The continuity of these services is of crucial importance, as it helps maintain users’ trust, ensures stability of support, and further strengthens local support networks.

The role of volunteering and the community

During its implementation, the “Navigating life with Dementia” project has made a significant contribution to strengthening volunteering as a core element of community-based care. In the new phase, this aspect will remain central, as volunteers provide not only practical assistance but also a sense of connection, understanding, and solidarity within the local community.

Such an approach contributes in the long term to strengthening community resilience, reducing stigma associated with dementia, and improving understanding of the needs of people living with dementia and their loved ones.

Institutional support

The continuation of activities is also made possible by the— modest but highly significant—support of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography of Montenegro. This support represents a clear signal that the importance of psychosocial assistance and systematic work with people living with dementia is increasingly being recognised at the institutional level in Montenegro.

Although the funding does not allow for extensive expansion, it does ensure the continuation of key services and represents an important step toward the long-term integration of such programmes into the social welfare system.

Looking ahead

The transition of the “Navigating life with Dementia” project into a sustainable phase demonstrates that well-designed, partnership-based initiatives can leave a lasting impact at the local level. Through their joint efforts, Zavod Krog and NGO Impuls have laid the foundations for the continued development of support services for people living with dementia and their families.

The project therefore remains alive—not merely as a set of activities, but as a model of community-based care, cooperation, and solidarity, with long-term significance for individuals, families, and society as a whole.

The »Navigating life with dementia« project was funded with the support of the European Union, the Government of Montenegro, and the Ministry of Public Administration of the Republic of Slovenia.