Hi there! Welcome to the November issue of With You in Mind, a newsletter by Dementia Singapore in collaboration with The Straits Times.

Persons living with dementia face complex care and medical needs that warrant carefully considered decisions. When confronted with such decisions, they are assessed on their mental capacity to make informed choices. Otherwise, healthcare professionals, donees or legal guardians will act in their best interests.

The problem arises when those deemed to possess mental capacity make decisions that are detrimental to themselves, while those who lack mental capacity have unwelcome decisions imposed upon them.

Read about how we can better handle this matter given the rapidly ageing population accompanied by the rising tide of dementia in Singapore.

For seniors seeking a place for rehabilitation exercises and social interaction, check out the Reach-SLEC Active Ageing Centre (Care) @ Teck Whye Vista. The centre, a collaboration between Reach Community Services and St Luke’s ElderCare (SLEC), is the first of its kind in the eldercare sector.

Opened by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong in October, it offers three services under one roof: daycare and day rehabilitation services by SLEC, and active ageing activities by Reach Community Services.

Mr Jonathan Leong, a second-year student at Singapore Polytechnic, used to think that people with dementia could not be independent at all, or that they were not able to enjoy life.

That was until the 19-year-old attended his first Memories Cafe earlier in 2024, organised by social service agency Dementia Singapore to give persons with dementia and their caregivers space to interact with others in a normalised cafe setting.

“Like other people, they are social. They have hobbies and they’re not bad at them,” he says.

Inter-generational activities improve the well-being of people with dementia. Experts say such engagement also benefits children and youth, teaching them responsibility, patience and practical skills.

Happy reading!