Voice of Dementia Online (2018-12)

DECEMBER 2018

The closing of a year can bring to the fore many emotions: regret for the many resolutions and chances not seized, relief as the promise of a new year and another shot at regrouping approaches, or sadness for relationships and people gone from your life. For persons living with Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia, the end of the year festive season presents a mixed bag of feelings. The irreversible nature of their condition means that every year passed battling it is one year closer towards deterioration. As their mental prowess declines and memories start to fade, it can be disheartening for someone living with dementia when she fails to recognise the faces or names of loved ones, or recollect the previous year’s celebration.

As such, the festive period is also a crucial time to not only get ourselves into the holiday spirit, but those around us in need as well. Spreading warmth and Christmas cheer to them can help to alleviate some of the pain and sadness they experience more intensively during this time. The spirit of giving should also see us reaching out to the needy, either through acts of charity like volunteerism, or in the form of donations that can help caregiving and dementia training programmes to raise awareness about the disease.

Feel free to send this to anyone you know who would be interested in gifting a little something this holiday season. They can also subscribe here to receive our e-newsletter. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

FEATURE STORIES

WAM2018: Making Every Second A Success

For over 20 years, Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA) has been actively commemorating World Alzheimer’s Month (WAM) to help shed light on the condition and the stigma that comes with it. The WAM conference is the centrepiece of ADA’s campaign to spread the message of awareness, and has become an annual event which reaches out to persons with dementia and their dedicated caregivers, providing them with a voice. This year’s conference is no exception, which saw a healthy turnout of 454 attendees comprising of people with dementia, their caregivers, industry stakeholders and partners, and members of the public keen to find out more about Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. READ MORE HERE.

#Hello, my name is…

As part of World Alzheimer’s Month, Dementia Alliance International (DAI) focused on sharing a series of its members’ stories as part of its ongoing efforts to give a voice to as many people with dementia across the world as possible. Themed ‘#Hello my name is’, the sharing saw many speak out, and raise awareness of what life is like for those living with dementia. ADA is proud to have George Chong as our first dementia advocate in Singapore under the DAI. READ MORE HERE.

Love for All Seasons

On 25 October 2018, more than 200 people gathered for ADA’s fundraising concert. Entitled Love for All Seasons, the concert was held at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Recital Studio and featured Angela Saik, Donnie Chan and Robert Seng who put on a captivating performance. READ MORE HERE.

NEWS SNIPPETS

White lies necessary sometimes to help persons with dementia

App way to help carers of dementia patients

Tango to slow down onset of dementia

How Virtual Reality Can Help Fight Dementia

Pregnancy high blood pressure linked to dementia decades later

Loneliness tied to a higher risk of dementia

15 common misconceptions and surprising realities about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

UPCOMING EVENTS

CSG in Mandarin: Personal Care and Hygiene

19 Jan 2019
10.30am-12.30pm
FOW (Tiong Bahru)

Family Caregiver Training Programme: Core Module

19 Jan 2019
9am-5pm
ARTC (Bendemeer)

Dementia Awareness Workshop

4 Jan 2019
9.30am-12.30pm
ARTC (Bendemeer)

For upcoming courses for PROFESSIONAL CAREGIVERS, visit dementia.org.sg/academy

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WATCH

Singing and dancing were the last things on Belinda’s mind when her mother Katherine was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease seven years ago. Yet that’s what the duo does regularly now, through Memories Cafe, a programme by Singapore’s Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA). Held weekly in different locations, Memories Cafe, one of several programmes by ADA, sees people with dementia and their caregivers gather for music, movement and lunch, giving them a joyful moment to deepen their bond. SEE MORE VIDEOS.

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