With You in Mind
Issue6 | January 2025
Happy New Year! Welcome to the January issue of With You in Mind, a newsletter by Dementia Singapore in collaboration with The Straits Times.
In this issue, read about how AWWA’s Care Beyond Walls project is making a real difference for seniors with dementia. By partnering with various organisations, the project offers meaningful activities that help boost well-being and build a sense of community.
What started in 2022 with just three partners has grown to 12, including unique hosts such as a dog shelter, a fish farm and a monastery. These activities, centred on volunteering, intergenerational bonding and learning, give seniors the chance to connect with others, stay mentally active and find purpose.
This initiative not only benefits the seniors but also fosters empathy and understanding among participants, creating a more inclusive and dementia-friendly society.
Also, catch The Straits Times’ Health Check podcast, where senior health correspondent Joyce Teo discusses dementia with Professor Nagaendran Kandiah, director of the Dementia Research Centre.
They explore how dementia presents differently in Asian and Caucasian populations, such as the higher prevalence of small vessel disease in Asians and the lower occurrence of the APOE4 gene linked to Alzheimer’s.
The discussion also highlights two new drugs that target the root cause of Alzheimer’s, offering hope for slowing its progression. Tune in to learn what these findings mean for early intervention, personalised care and the future of dementia treatments.
Finally, caring for someone with advanced dementia can be really tough, especially when eating becomes a struggle.
Many caregivers turn to tube feeding, thinking it’s the only option, but this approach can lead to complications, reduced quality of life and caregiver regret. Hand feeding can be a better option, letting loved ones enjoy their favourite foods and maintain some dignity.
Caregivers need better support and clear information about feeding options to make informed, compassionate decisions that align with their loved one’s values and goals of care.
The start of a new year is always a time for fresh beginnings and renewed hope. Together, let’s create greater awareness and provide stronger support for those living with dementia and their loved ones.
Happy reading!
More agencies join AWWA project to engage seniors with dementia
The Care Beyond Walls project, with newer partners like a dog shelter, fish farm and monastery, engages seniors with dementia in community activities, enhancing well-being and fostering inclusivity.
Health Check Podcast: The difference between Asian and Caucasian dementia
ST’s senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talks to Professor Nagaendran Kandiah, director of the Dementia Research Centre, about two drugs that can slow down Alzheimer’s disease by treating the root cause.
For lonely seniors, AI companions can be a lifeline
Robots driven by artificial intelligence offer promising support for an ageing population, with careful attention to ethical considerations.
‘Hello, uncle!’: Students help elderly in coffee shops access social care system
The Hack Kopitiam initiative engages seniors, particularly men, through innovative community-driven activities, creating meaningful connections and linking them to active ageing centres.
Dementia caregivers’ dilemma:
‘No tube feeding? Am I killing him?’
Deciding whether or not to tube feed is a deeply personal choice that caregivers must make based on consideration of their loved one’s wishes, values and goals of care.
Patients, caregivers tapped as ‘medical research partners’
Through the new Open Voices network by the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU, they turn their personal experiences into meaningful insights that could shape medical research and education.
MediShield Life review reflects sober realities of an ageing society
As medical costs rise and premiums increase, experts urge individuals to carefully assess healthcare needs and insurance plans while advocating changes in consumer behaviour and supply practices.
WHO endorses Singapore as leader in linking patients to community resources
SingHealth Community Hospitals becomes the world’s first WHO Collaborating Centre for Social Prescribing, advancing community-based healthcare and combating social isolation.
Residents’ hub opens in private landed estate in Lentor
The tie-up with an active ageing centre offers activities such as exercise sessions, health talks and hobby-based interest groups to boost seniors’ physical and social well-being.
How scammers prey on loneliness in old age
Scammers exploit lonely seniors through emotional manipulation, preying on their need for companionship and trust, while cognitive dissonance reinforces victims’ belief despite evidence.
This newsletter is brought to you by Dementia Singapore in collaboration with The Straits Times.
Share this newsletter!
