Dementia in Singapore affects 5.2 per cent of Singaporeans aged 60 and above. Get quick facts on dementia in Singapore and useful tips in this article.
Dementia in Singapore
is a growing concern. By 2020, 53,000 Singaporeans are likely to have dementia. The number is expected to balloon to 187,000 come 2050.
Dementia: What it is
Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease caused by damage to protein structures in the brain, abnormal protein growth around brain cells, or lost connections between brain cells.
Patients suffer memory loss, and lose the ability to coordinate, recognise objects and interpret the environment. Dementia is a progressive disease, but changes to the home can help patients live safely and independently.
Dementia: Signs and symptoms
Early symptoms of dementia are usually not immediately obvious and may vary from person to person. Some noticeable and common symptoms include:
-
Forgetting recent events and misplacing things
- Having
impaired judgement and difficulty planning or solving problems
- Having
difficulty finding the right words
- Having
difficulty performing familiar tasks
- Becoming
confused and disoriented in unfamiliar places
- Having
personality changes and mood swings
Tips to make a home dementia-friendly
-
Lighting should match the cycle of day and night to regulate the body’s circadian rhythm
-
Declutter the home to avoid falls
-
Avoid wavy lines, but have contrasting colours on walls and floors to give a sense of depth and perspective
-
Label commonly used cupboards and drawers
- Keep
medication and important items in designated places
- Leave a
phone list (with photographs, if necessary) by the telephone
- Use a
bulletin board for reminders to the person
- Install
bed sensors to alert carers when patient is up and moving
Community support for dementia patients
To help dementia patients lead dignified lives, the Ministry of Health and Agency for Integrated Care have been strengthening the skills and capabilities of care staff and carers:
- Eldercare centres in Singapore are able to care for 1,000 seniors with dementia at any given time
- The centres will have the capacity to look after 3,000 seniors with dementia by 2020
- The dementia-friendly communities initiative has trained over 7,000 people from communities like Macpherson and Yishun to recognise common dementia signs and help support people with dementia
-
$200 a year each is available for carers, including domestic foreign workers, to attend courses under the Caregivers Training Grant
Numbers at a glance
Sources: Ministry of Health, Health Promotion Board, Institute of Mental Health, Alzheimer’s Disease Association
Ref: N18
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