September is World Alzheimer’s Month! PAGE Needs Your Support

September is World Alzheimer’s Month! PAGE Needs Your Support

September is World Alzheimer’s Month! PAGE (People`s Association of Geriatric Empowerment) Needs Your Support to make Mangaluru DEMENTIA FRIENDLY.

Mangaluru: Yes, as always, September is World Alzheimer’s Month- and for that matter-September 2017 will mark the sixth global World Alzheimer’s Month™, an international campaign to raise awareness of dementia and challenge stigma. The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month 2017 is “Remember Me”, encouraging people all around the world to learn to spot the signs of dementia, but also not to forget about loved ones who are living with dementia, or those who may have passed away.

Sources reveal that every 3 seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. India and other developing countries are going to be the worst hit because of population ageing and rising risk factors for dementia such as diabetes, physical inactivity, midlife hypertension, smoking and alcohol abuse. India is estimated to have nearly 4.5 million people with dementia and the number is likely to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050 and we are poorly prepared. There is a lack of awareness of the condition along with stigma. Many of the elderly with dementia are even chained. They definitely need the love and care of the loved ones and the society at this stage of their lives. The impact of September’s campaign is growing, but the stigmatization and misinformation that surrounds dementia remain a global problem.

The World Alzheimer Report 2015 estimates that someone in the world develops dementia every 3 seconds. There are currently around 47 million people living with dementia globally, with numbers projected to nearly double every 20 years. India is home to nearly 4 million with dementia. By 2018, dementia is set to become a trillion dollar disease. By 2050, it will affect over 131 million people. 58% of all people living with dementia today reside in low and middle-income countries We can reduce the number by one-third by controlling diabetes, hypertension in midlife, being physically and mentally active and socially engaged. The members of PAGE (People`s Association of Geriatric Empowerment ) group of organizations of the city of Mangaluru and Udupi are all geared up to observe the September month in an Unique Way with activities spread throughout the month with the goal of making the City of Mangaluru and Udupi Dementia Friendly. Their activities Listed for the Month are as follows:

1. Launch of The Alzheimer`s Month at Kadri Park, Mangaluru on 1 September at 7 am.

2. Month long awareness programme at multiple locations for multiple groups, at least one by each PAGE group of organizations.

3. Slogan Competition on Dementia /Memory within each organization by writing the slogan on the pages of Memory pad that will be provided by the committee and select the two best slogans and send it to the committee for award by 10th September 2017

4. Care Giver award –Please send nominations by sending the names and contact details of the care giver and the name of the patient with dementia that they are caring for .and send it to PAGE office through E mail or SMS by 10th September 2017

5. Award for People living with dementia who have achieved something despite the diagnosis of dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment –Please send nominations to PAGE Office through E mail or SMS by 10th September 2017

6. Wearing Badges with the Theme Slogan–”Remember Me” at all meeting places during the month

7. Wearing Theme coloured dresses –Red and White or Red or White throughout the month

8. Setting up of Memory clinic based on the Guidelines given by Alzheimer`s and Related Disorder International (ARDSI) in Medical Colleges, Hospitals, Clinics and get it accredited by ARDSI

9. Setting up of Simple Memory Screening Test Centres at Senior Citizen’s`s Group Organisations, Service organisations for early detection of Cognitive Impairment and referral and making it popular like blood sugar tests and BP check and offer it as a package for seniors

10. Celebration of the Alzheimer`s Day on 23rd September 2017 between 9-12 Noon at Town Hall with distribution of the awards and a small show by Seniors on Warning signs of Dementia and Risk reduction

Various organizations who are part of the PAGE “World Alzheimer’s Month” are Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru; Vishwas Trust; Spoorthi Charitable Trust; Mangalore Alzheimer`s Association; Action Group of The Elderly (AGE -Mangaluru); Pro Bus Club(Club for Professional and Business People ); Mangalore Senior Citizen Association (MaSCA); Bright HR Solution and Services; IndospectPharma; Abhaya Ashraya; Susheng Trust; A V Baliga Trust; Nitte Education Trust; Syndicate Bank; Karnataka Bank; Lions Club ,DK district; Rotary Club, Mangalore Midtown; Ave Maria palliative Care Home; Yenepoya Medical College; Sahaya; St. Aloysius College.; Manaswini Psychiatric Hospital; Father Muller’s Medical College; and A.J.Medical College.

PAGE has also made an Appeal for Contribution towards this project :

September is the month to campaign against this dreaded disease-“Alzheimer’s”-the members of People`s Association of Geriatric Empowerment want to observe the month with the following activities

1. Launch of Awareness Programme at Kadri Park with a 5 Km Memory Walk/Memory Games

2. Awareness programmes with camp for the elderly at least 5 for memory testing

3. Observation of Alzheimer`s Day with a Movie on Alzheimer’s Disease –“I don’t Miss Him”. Directed by National Award Winning Director O.P.Srivatsava will be screened on world Alzheimer’s Day on 23rd, September at Town Hall.

4. Games for caregivers

5. Games for the dementia winners

PAGE requests your organization to become a member of PAGE and join them in their fight against dementia-

Membership Fee –Rs 5000

Corporate Membership Rs 25,000

Individual Contributions –Rs 100 or more towards lucky dip

Sponsorship –breakfast for 500 =Rs 30,000

Sponsorship –Lunch–Rs.100 x1000 =Rs1,00,000

Hall & Miscellaneous = Rs.25,000

Sponsorship –Booklet on facilities for Seniors in Mangaluru -1000 x50 Rs =Rs50,000

Badges/Red Caps/Red T-Shirts: 500=Rs 50,000

AV Recording + Live Telecast –Rs 50,000

Approximate Budget for the programme: Rs 3,50,000/- (Rupees Three Lakh Fifty Thousand only)

So, join the campaign! Please select at least one or more of the feasible activities for your organisation and let PAGE organizers know- and also please join PAGE for the launch and Alzheimer`s Day Celebrations and support them in whatever capacity you can.

Please do not hesitate to contact: Dr Olinda Pereira-(Founder, Vishwas Trust) President-PAGE at 08242430718 or Dr Prabha Adhikari ( Founder, Spoorthi Charitable Trust) Vice President-PAGE at 9880991290; Er Jerardin D Souza, (Founder Mangalore Alzheimer`s Association) Chief Coordinator-PAGE; Mohanraj-Secretary-PAGE at 9743202273; Lidwin Lobo- Treasurer, PAGE at 9741505674 for any details or E mail at prabha.raghuveer@gmail.com

Note: Photos from 2016 September Alzheimer’s Month Celebrations

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• Grand and Colorful ‘World Alzheimer’s Month’ launched

• All’s Well that Ends Well! Adios to World Alzheimer’s Month