With You in Mind
Issue 1 | August 2024
Hi there! Welcome to the inaugural issue of With You in Mind, a newsletter by Dementia Singapore in collaboration with The Straits Times.
As dementia affects a growing number of people worldwide, we are committed to providing valuable insights and fostering a supportive community for affected individuals, their caregivers, and all those interested in learning more about this condition.
In Singapore alone, the number of individuals diagnosed with dementia is expected to exceed 150,000 in the next six years. Notably, we are also seeing an increase in diagnoses among those under 65 years old.
Dementia impacts not just individuals but entire communities, highlighting the importance of a collective approach to care and support.
By fostering a deeper understanding of dementia and its effects, we can work towards a more inclusive society for all those affected. In addition, recognising and addressing modifiable risk factors is crucial in reducing the likelihood of developing dementia.
In this first issue, read about how Health Minister Ong Ye Kung engages with seniors living alone during his weekly home visits in Sembawang Central.
Speaking at the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) Community Care Work Plan Seminar 2024, he stressed the need for active ageing centres (AACs) to have better outreach, more interesting activities and stronger partnerships with community care groups.
As society ages, efforts are afoot to enable seniors to live dignified and meaningful lives. But ageism – prejudices based on a person’s chronological age – remains entrenched. Are doctors biased against older patients and those with dementia?
A patient’s age or cognitive function should not be the foremost consideration, our writers say. Securing the patient’s best interests after carefully weighing all factors is what matters.
Charity boss Samuel Ng, 57, was once a rebellious teen who ran away from home. Decades later, however, he became a caregiver for his dementia-stricken mother.
The founder and chief executive of Montfort Care social service agency touches on this episode in his life in his caregiver memoir, Can I Hold You A While Longer? Mum And Our Slow Dance With Dementia, which delves into various facets of the caregiving experience.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Together, we can raise awareness, spread hope, and help build a dementia-inclusive society.
Happy reading!
‘We’ll belanja you’: Ong Ye Kung urges better outreach to engage seniors
Health Minister wants active ageing centres to forge stronger partnerships with community care groups to “take good care of our seniors” and keep them healthy and active.
Home palliative care capacity to
rise 50% by end-2025
The Ministry of Health is also setting aside $23 million to roll out the Equipment Rental Scheme, where public hospitals will help make it easier for families to rent home equipment.
The true cost of dementia: It can set a family back by up to $1.6m over 10 years
The huge financial impact of the disease has prompted experts to urge people to factor in dementia as part of their preparation for future health expenses.
‘Dementia has brought me back to my mother’: One man’s journey from
runaway son to caregiver
Charity boss’ book delves into various facets of the caregiving experience, and how memory loss is far from being the most challenging aspect of the disease’s debilitating toll.
Innovative approaches to eldercare around the world
Not just technology but an improved ecosystem, incorporating best practices from around the world, is what will make the biggest difference.
Are doctors biased against older patients and those with dementia?
A patient’s age or cognitive function should not be the foremost consideration, the writers say. Securing the patient’s best interests after carefully weighing all factors is what matters.
Singapore insurers covering more niche areas, emerging trends
Coverage of dementia is not entirely new, but a standalone long-term plan called Singlife Dementia Cover is the first in the market to provide yearly payouts for dementia and mental health conditions.
The most common reasons for the use are to prevent falls, wandering and removing catheters or feeding tubes. Restraints also help to manage the seniors when they become violent.
Older adults with no kids take on bulk of caregiving: Study
The findings by researchers from NUS and SMU are contradictory to the belief that childlessness signals a break from traditional family norms and weakening familial ties.
Fall detection package to support seniors ageing in place
HDB will arrange for commercial vendors to offer these packages to interested households as part of efforts to improve the living environment of seniors and to help them live independently.
This newsletter is brought to you by Dementia Singapore in collaboration with The Straits Times.
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