S.O.S! PAGE needs your support to Fight Alzheimer’s
PAGE -People`s Association of Geriatric Empowerment is organizing an eventful Alzheimer month with the international Theme -“Remember Me and Local Theme -Towards a Dementia Friendly City” – by organizing various events. “I request you and your organisation to get actively involved in celebration of Alzheimer Month by PAGE by taking up at least one of the activities listed under the activities for the month . Kindly join us for the launch and closing ceremony as mentioned on the dates below .Please permit us to include you in ”WhatsApp” group regarding posting of meeting information and plan of further activities.”- Jerardin D’souza- Founder of Mangalore Alzheimer’s Association
Mangaluru: Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older. But Alzheimer’s is not just a disease of old age. Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer’s (also known as younger-onset), which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s.
Alzheimer’s worsens over time. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer’s, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and also in other countries. Those with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions. To bring awareness on Alzheimer’s/Dementia, PAGE which is comprised of fifteen active organizations are determined to help those suffering from this disease through care and other means.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Jeradin D’souza said, ” I request the community/organizations to get actively involved in celebration of Alzheimer Month by PAGE by taking up at least one of the activities listed under the activities for the month .Kindly join us for the launch and closing ceremony as mentioned on the dates below .Please permit us to include you in ”WhatsApp” group regarding posting of meeting information and plan of further activities. PAGE -People`s Association of Geriatric Empowerment is organizing an eventful Alzheimer month with the international Theme -Remember Me and local theme -Towards a Dementia Friendly City – by doing the following activities-
– Launch of the Month at Kadri Park on 1st of September at 7 AM
– 15 awareness programmes for various groups to reach out 15 groups
– Free Memory screening tests at 15 centres
– Slogan competition by writing a slogan on Memory /dementia in Memory Pad
– Wearing the badge with the theme “Remember me “
– Setting up of memory Clinics at 5 centres with facilities for neuro psychological testing for confirmation of dementia
– Sending nomination of patients living with dementia who enjoy coming to social functions to receive awards on 21st of September
– Care giver awards for those who are caring for people with AD -send nominations even if their cared one is no more
– Memory Walk to Roshni Nilaya and concluding ceremony on 21st of September 2016″
Organisations under PAGE include :
Vishwas Trust; KMC Nava Chaitanya; Spoorthi Charitable Trust; Mangalore Senior Citizen Association; AGE Mangalore; Mangalore Alzheimer`s Association – MAA; PROBUS Club; Sahaya; Bright HR Solutions; Kasturba Medical College -represented by Dr Shivananda Pai ,Dr Prasanna Mithra ,Dr Mariella D Souza Dr Keshava Pai and Dr Sheetalraj and KMC care giver Forum and community Medicine Department; KSHEMA -Represented by Dr Satish Rao; Yenepoya Medical College represented by Dr Asha Shetty -Principal Nursing College and Dr Pracheth R ,Community Medicine ,Yenepoya Medical College; Father Muller`s Medical College represented by Dr Supriya Hegde; AV Baliga Trust and Hospital Udupi , represented by Dr.P.V.Bhandary; Ave Maria Palliative Care Hospice -Dr Laveena Noronha ,Gerry Pinto -Susheng Charitable Trust; and Abhaya Ashraya and AJ Institute of Medical Sciences -Represented by Dr Jayarama
During the first meeting pertaining to the activities planned for “Alzheimer’s Month” various details of Organizing the Alzheimer’s Month were discussed. Lions Club under the able leadership of Governor Lion Arun Shetty are Sponsoring most of the things for the Launch at Kadri Park on 1 September at 7 am. Rotary Club too to be involved also. Although Town Hall was planned for the Conclusion programme on 21 Sept. but since the Hall rent is enormous and Seniors find it difficult, the committee members have decided to meet the MCC officials to waive to rent or charge very low rent. A Press Meet at Mangalore Press Club has been scheduled for 29 August at 10.30 am. Each Among the Fifteen Organizations Will Organize at least One Program in the Month. Memory Clinics and Training for Trainers will be provided. Writing of Slogans on Memory pad, Honoring Alzheimer’s Care Givers, and Honoring Alzheimer’s Sufferers also planned.
Dementia can be viewed as a futile and hopeless situation. There are many developments that can be utilized to make life easier and comfortable to the affected. Knowing that there is NO Cure puts the onus on Society from the Doctors. Doctors can only diagnose it as Dementia, but find it difficult to Pin Point which type it is exactly. So the Care Giving becomes of Paramount importance. Family suffers without Knowing how to handle the affected. PAGE will try and work hard to educate the families & care givers on the manner in handling these sadly affected people. Being Old is a natural process. There is tremendous wisdom and experience that comes with Age, which should be utilized. Keeping the Elders active will help in, preventing the delay in the onset of dementia. By helping the AD affected, youth can empathize and become sensitive human beings. We request the Schools and colleges to actively involve the youth in jointly doing activities, programs with Elders.
According to a local doctor at KMC, Dr.Prabha Adhikari, TV viewing for more than 4 hours a day is associated with cognitive decline; Women are twice as likely to progress to Dementia from mild cognitive impairment; TV viewing with decreased physical activity has the worst cognition. But the good news is Brain Fitness Program of 12 weeks is known to improve the size of the brain. Included Brain Exercise, Physical Exercise & a Healthy Diet, which for Mangaloreans is done at the ACTIVE AGING Centres at KMC Nava Chaitanya and Spoorthi Trust. All elders should take benefit from these initiatives of Dr.Prabha Adhikari, whom Jerardin calls her the Soul of MAA/PAGE.
The President of PAGE, Dr Olinda Pereiera will lead theoperations who will be assisted by Dr Prabha Adhikari,Vice President of PAGE and all the representatives of PAGE organisations : Dr Prabha Adhikari M.R., Professor of Internal Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru : Phone 9880991290
