Our Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Participated in the EDEM Conference

Academics from the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences at Istanbul Gedik University, participated in the EDEM Conference – Ethics in Dementia, held on 16–17 September 2026 in Elbasan, Albania, and hosted by the University of Elbasan “Aleksandër Xhuvani.”

The conference was organized within the scope of COST Action CA21137 – Ethics in Dementia (EDEM). Alongside academics from Denmark, Albania, and Ireland, Prof. Dr. Esra Doğru Hüzmeli from our University served on the Organizing Committee. Our University’s involvement as a stakeholder in this international scientific event and its contribution to scientific collaboration bringing together researchers from different countries represented an important step in enhancing our University’s international academic visibility.

During the conference, Research Assistant İlkay Tuğçe Köse presented the study entitled “Greater Patient Dependence and Caregiver Burden Are Linked to Poorer Caregiver Well-Being in Dementia Care,” whose research team included Prof. Dr. Esra Doğru Hüzmeli, Research Assistant Duru Ceren Yavuz, and Research Assistant İrem Nur Usluer from our Department. The study examined the relationship between patient dependency, caregiver burden, and caregiver well-being in dementia care.

The event also provided an opportunity to follow scientific discussions on international collaborations conducted within the framework of the EDEM COST Action and ethical approaches to dementia care. In addition to facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience among researchers from different countries, the conference contributed to the development of new academic collaborations.

As part of the conference, the book “Everyday Ethical Issues in Caring and Supporting Someone Living with Dementia,” published by Istanbul Gedik University Press and co-edited by our Head of Department, Prof. Dr. Esra Doğru Hüzmeli, was also introduced to the participants.