It’s hard to be believe it’s been almost 30 years since my
Grandfather was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. I can still remember
the sign, masking taped onto the back of his bathrobe, ‘if found, return to
ward 5B’. I thought it was awful that my vibrant, sports-mad Grandfather was
left to spend the remainder of his years tied to a chair for his own safety and
protection. It still feels like yesterday and I can still smell the scents of
the nursing home if I think of those days.
Alzheimer and dementia treatment has come a long way since then. While the end-of-cycle care is most likely the same, the treatments
available are allowing people with Alzheimer’s to live longer, and more
fulfilling lives.
“In the same way as any other person with a disability, we should be supported to remain independent in our communities for as long as possible.”
Dementia is the single greatest cause of disability in
Australian’s aged 65 years or over, with total direct expenditure to the health
and aged care sector totalling $4.3 billion in the year 2009-10. Health and residential
aged care spending is projected to surpass $83 billion per annum by 2060.
According to Alzheimer’s Australia, there are more than 353,800
Australian’s living with dementia and the number is expected to surpass 400,000
in less than 5 years. Statistics also show there are over 25,000 people in
Australia living with Younger Onset Dementia (diagnosis under the age of 65).
In recent years, there has been a move away from traditional
methods of care for people living with dementia, and the creation of Dementia
Friendly Communities has captured the attention and imagination of consumers,
policy makers, and researchers across the world.
“The importance of the concept of dementia friendly
communities fits with the needs of our human rights and disability rights to be
recognised,” Kate Swaffer from Dementia Alliance International said in a recent
report. “In the same way as any other person with a disability, we should be
supported to remain independent in our communities for as long as possible.”
One of the most well-known examples of a dementia friendly community
is the Alzheimer Café in the Netherlands. Founded in 1997, the Alzheimer’s Café
has become one of the most easily transferrable programme models used in many
countries around the world.
The Alzheimer’s Café’s main aim is to provide a welcoming
and friendly atmosphere in an accessible location for all people with or
affected by dementia. There are now 230 Alzheimer’s Cafés run around the world
by volunteers, attracting over 35,000 visitors a year. In order to support
cultural situations the Alzheimer’s Tea Houses have also been introduced for
those whose first language is Moroccan or Turkish.
Closer to home, Men’s Sheds was developed to provide men
with a work-like setting where they could go to meet others and take part in technical
and craft activities. The name came from the Australian tradition of men having
a garden shed. The initiative shares many of the same aims as dementia friendly
communities including reducing isolation, loneliness and depression in dementia
patients.
Trial research and programmes underway in Kiama and
Port Macquarie are further exploring the impact of Dementia Friendly
Communities in Australia.
Dementia can be an isolating illness, not only for the
patients but the families and carers as well. Dementia friendly communities
provide a life line out of the isolation and fear that many family and patients
find themselves living with. Ensuring as
a high a quality of life as possible for people living with dementia,
guarantees them their dignity and humanity for as long as possible.
Mike Cullen has recently returned to Akolade after a period as the
conference producer for one of Australia's leading economic think tanks. Mike
began working in the conference industry in 2007 after looking for a career
change from the high pressured world of inbound customer service. Mike has
worked for some of the most well-known conference and media companies in the
B2B space and in his spare time is working on his first novel in a planned Epic
Fantasy trilogy.
Mike’s most recently published story, Seeds of
Eden, is featured in the Sproutlings Anthology released in March 2016.
No comments :
Post a Comment