Association turns ‘light switch’ on Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is not a “mad people disease”, neither is it a disease that affects people because they are “evil”.

These are some of the myths that the St Vincent and the Grenadines Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Association Inc. is hoping to bust through increased public awareness.

The organization last week concluded a month of activities to mark World Alzheimer’s Month which is celebrated globally in September.

Speaking at a rally held in Kingstown on September 27, 2024,President Slyvia Gould expressed concern about attitudes of discrimination facing patients of Alzhiemer’s and dementia disease.

She presented findings of the 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease World International report, an international survey analyzed by the London School of Economics and Political Science which consisted of responses from 40,000 respondents from over 160 countries including St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The report showed that 88 percent of people living with dementia indicate that they experience discrimination.

“These underlie the fact that the time to act on Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia is now. Unless we make inroads to education and advocacy for people living with this condition, the number of cases will spiral out of control due to ignorance and fear,” Sr Gould stressed.

“ The time for waiting is gone. We have to begin now to put programmes in place to reduce the number of persons with the disease as well as to reduce the stigma and discrimination that is meted out to persons with this poorly understood condition. This is the responsibility of all.”

The survey showed that a quarter of the people worldwide believe there is nothing that can be done to prevent dementia. In the 2019 report, this belief was held by 20 percent, particularly in lower and middle income countries. The report also showed that 80 percent of the general population believe dementia is a normal part of ageing which is “a dramatic increase” from 65 percent which was shown in the 2019 report.

Gould said this is “yet another myth that we have to bust that we can in fact do something about dementia”. She also said she hopes the day’s activity is a “light switch in the dark” which can lead to increased knowledge about the disease.

An inaugural memory walk was held in advance of the rally on Friday and Gould said, despite the turn-out being less than anticipated, she believes the event is one that will not be forgotten.

Minister of National Mobilization, Senator Keisal Peters, shared figures on public assistance for elderly persons in the country.

For the year to date, 2,617 older persons benefit monthly from the Public Assistance Programme, 308 receive a temporary Elderly Support Grant, and 285 clients are under the Home Help for the Elderly Programme. There is a public/private partnership with nursing homes for care of persons who were abandoned during the eruption of the volcano in 2021.

The rally also featured performances from the Kingstown Government School (KGS), and the Owia Government School.