Raising mental health awareness
Dementia affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement.
DEMENTIA is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in cognitive function beyond what might be expected from the usual consequences of biological ageing.
It affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death among all diseases and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.
To help bring more awareness, the 4get Me Not Support Group hosted its annual dementia awareness campaign at the Austerville Community Hall on Saturday, October 2.
The event was well supported and the public was invited to learn more about the illness, mental health and how to care for those affected by it. “Caring for someone who is mentally challenged puts a huge strain on the carer’s physical and mental health. It can also strain the relationships with other family members and test your faith at the worst of times,” said Gael Baltimore.
She also shared on a one of a kind database created for individuals living with dementia who might wander off, causing distress and trauma to their families.
“Wandering off due to having dementia or Alzheimer’s disease causes people to lose their ability to recognise familiar places and faces. It’s common for a person living with dementia to wander or become lost or confused about their location, and it can happen at any stage of the disease.”
The 4get Me Not Support Group holds meetings every third Wednesday of the month at John Dunn Home (224 Austerville Drive) from 14:00 to 16:00.
