A WAKE UP call was issued by President of the Barbados Alzheimer’s Association, Pamelia Brereton, for persons to learn more about the Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia.
Speaking at a training seminar hosted by the Barbados Alzheimer’s Association in collaboration withthe National Committee on Ageing, Brereton cautioned that dementia has reached epidemic stage in Barbados, with well over 4 000 persons being diagnosed.
The workshop held at the Savannah Hotel was in recognition of World Alzheimer’s Day, which was celebrated globally yesterday under the theme, “Remember Me”.
She lamented that the gap between the need for prevention, treatment and care for dementia and the actual provision is wide.
“Dementia is under-diagnosedworldwide, and if a diagnosis is made, it is typically at a relatively late stage in the disease process. Long-term care pathways for people with dementia are frequently fragmented, if not entirely lacking.”
“Lack of awareness and understanding of dementia are often to blame, resulting in stigmatisation and barriers to diagnosis and care. It is also widely recognised that people with dementia are frequently denied
their human rights, both in the community and in care homes,” she revealed.
Brereton told the room filled with caregivers and other stakeholders, “The time has come for Barbados to look more closely at the estimated numbers of 4077 as of last year. This is 2016 and those numbers would have increased much more, Alzheimer’s is now considered an epidemic and around the world we are looking at Alzheimer’s villages.”
“The need for better care is really entrusted to each and everyone, we all know of someone living with some form of dementia.”
“Today my message is to urge everyone to reach out and gain all the knowledge you can to better understand what is dementia and make it your business to care. Dementia is a demanding disease that calls for a lot of tolerance and understanding.”
She reminded that dementia is a major cause of disability and dependency among older people world-wide, having an impact not only on individuals but also carers, families, communities and societies.
“Dementia accounts for 11.9 per cent of the years lived with disability due to a non-communicable disease. In light of the improved survival globally, this figure is expected to increase further,” she cautioned.
As it relates to the price tag associated with the disease, she told the participants that dementia leads to increased long-term care costs for government’s communities, families and individuals, and to losses in productivity for economies. She revealed that in 2015, dementia costs were estimated at US 818 billion and by 2030 the cost of caring for people with dementia has been estimated to reach US$2 trillion.
“A total that could undermine social and economic development globally and overwhelm health and social care systems specifically. The indirect costs of care incurred by informal carers and family members result in millions of people living in chronic poverty.”
Yesterday’s whole-day workshop covered a number of subject areas including Living With Dementia; Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease, What You Should Know; Practical Activities and Care, Challenges confronting workers in the Delivery of Services for Persons with Alzheimer, Legal Issues & Right Surrounding Dementia and Nursing Care of the patient with Dementia. (JH)