Educational seminars, a dress-down day, support group meetings, and a 5K walk/run are among events planned in observance of World Alzheimer’s Day on Sept. 21.
The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands is organizing the events to raise awareness of the disease, which affects some 44 million people worldwide.
This year’s theme is “Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?” Dorothy Davis, founder of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands, said, “There are five ways in which we can help to reduce our risk of developing dementia and that is by looking after our heart, being physically active, following a healthy diet, challenging our brain and enjoying social activities.”
Ms. Davis, whose mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago, started the organization in 2012.
“Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia can be very overwhelming at times,” she said. “No two days are alike as each new day will bring a new challenge. “Live in their moment. Do not try to correct the person with Alzheimer’s or ask them to remember.”
Since launching the organization, Ms. Davis said she has come into contact with more than 200 people living with dementia in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.
Alzheimer’s causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.
“That person that you knew 10 or 20 years ago is no longer there,” she said. “You have to start treating them like the person they are now. Caregivers must have patience, abundance, love, compassion and empathy for them. Sometimes a person with Alzheimer’s will look in the mirror and they don’t even recognize that person.”
The disease also puts a strain on families.
“You as the caregiver must also take care of yourself, seek some sort of respite from time to time whether your are the family or paid caregiver, attend the Alzheimer’s Support Group meetings or share you feelings with a friend. The person you are caring for need you and you cannot care for someone if you are sick.”
The disease
According to the Alzheimer’s Association website, “the most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering newly learned information because Alzheimer’s changes typically begin in the part of the brain that affects learning. As Alzheimer’s advances through the brain it leads to increasingly severe symptoms, including disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.”
To offer support to families affected by the disease, the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the George Town Hospital Conference Room – Hibiscus B.
For more information on how to get involved, visit www.adacayman.com.
Events
Corporate dress-down day: Participants are asked to wear purple and donate $5 on Sept. 19
“Praise in Purple”: Local churches are asked to call for 98 seconds of silence to acknowledge and recognize people who are living with the disease, and their caregivers, on Sept. 21
Support group meeting on Sept. 24
Memory Walk/Run 5K on Sept. 27.
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