Sunday Times 2
Launch of Dementia Friendly Programme for World Alzheimer Month
The Lanka Alzheimer Foundation began its annual World Alzheimer Month celebrations with a press conference on September 1 where founder Lorraine Yu announced the launch of the Dementia Friendly Programme, an effort to inculcate dementia friendly communities in Colombo and islandwide.
Lorraine Yu of the Lanka Alzheimer's Foundation presents the Dementia Friendly Sticker to a representative of the Maradana Police Station
The foundation is an approved charity incorporated in 2001, and is the first statutory organisation dedicated to advocating and addressing the needs of those diagnosed with cognitive impairment and dementia. Over the years, the foundation has spearheaded several initiatives to raise awareness about the condition, which can afflict up to 135 million people globally by 2050 according to estimations. Currently, someone in the world develops dementia every four seconds.
In Sri Lanka the estimated population of people with dementia is 147,000. However, a disturbing lack of awareness about the condition means it is often passed off as a symptom of old age. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, with Alzheimer’s being the most common type. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. The greatest known risk factor for the condition is increasing age, with a majority afflicted aged 65 years or older. However, up to 5% of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer’s which can appear when someone is in their 40s or 50s.
“It’s more important than ever that more people are aware about the challenges those living with dementia and their families face,” noted Yu at the press event. “This is why we’re launching our dementia friendly programme to facilitate greater awareness, and to also create more friendly communities for such individuals.”
The Dementia Friendly Communities programme focuses on improving inclusion and quality of life for people living with dementia by defining and developing dementia friendly communities. In these communities, people will be aware and understand more about dementia while those living with dementia and their carers will be encouraged to seek help and support and feel more included in their community, be independent and have choice and control over their lives.
For this purpose the Lanka Alzheimer Foundation has introduced the Dementia Friendly Sticker which will be awarded to partner organisations such as police stations, hospitals, pharmacies, supermarkets etc. At the event, several partner organisations, including the Maradana police station, were awarded the sticker. The sticker may be displayed at places where personnel have been trained on dementia awareness and how to support customers with dementia.
In addition, the foundation also introduced personalised identification bracelets for those with dementia-”six out of 10 people with dementia wander away from home,” noted Yu. “These bracelets have their name and caregiver contact details, so that someone will be able to contact the family if they go missing.”
In celebration of World Alzheimer’s Month in September, the foundation has organised several awareness and fundraising activities, including a public lecture on September 10 and a 5 km memory walk on September 26. The foundation also operates a dedicated service and information centre in Maradana.
For more visit www. alzlanka. org