The Barbados Alzheimer’s Association and its global partner Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) on Thursday urged the Government and local health officials to act now to tackle dementia or face a spiralling public health crisis.
With data showing that more than one million people in the Caribbean are likely to be living with dementia by 2050, the two bodies warned that the true scale of the problem has been underestimated and most countries are not prepared.
“Dementia experts around the globe have demonstrated that we are en route to an extraordinary increase in the prevalence of dementia over the coming years. We know that any other disease which had been predicted to increase in less than 30 years would most certainly have the attention of the government. Frustratingly, however, most governments still do not have dementia plans in place, despite committing to developing them in 2017,” lamented ADI’s chief executive officer Paola Barbarino.
“And, sadly, we know that the stigma and discrimination which still exist around dementia mean that many people still do not come forward for a diagnosis, excluding millions of people around the world from vital treatment and support.”
At the local level, the last count of people living with dementia was 4 087 in 2014, and while the president of the local Alzheimer’s association Pamelia Brereton told Barbados TODAY there are no up-to-date figures, she believes there has been a substantial increase in cases.
“I am sure it has increased enormously and the reason I am saying that is because in reality, we are living in an ageing society and the greatest risk of dementia is age,” she said.
Brereton is particularly concerned that too many people are not receiving medical treatment for the condition, while many people diagnosed with the condition are unable to access the treatment and support they require.
“Because of stigma and fear, people are reluctant to get diagnosed. Once the diagnosis has occurred, there’s a greater need for support for those afflicted, their families, and caregivers,” Brereton said, noting the families were under increasing pressure to cope with loved ones living with dementia.
“I am hoping that we can educate the public more about the disease because, technically, most of the people that we are getting calls from would be people who are living at home, families having issues caring for them because they don’t understand how to care for a person living with dementia.
“Mum is going to the bathroom and she is putting her hands in the mess and leaving it all over the walls. She won’t keep on the pampers and in this COVID time, she is not keeping on the mask. It’s those kinds of things, or she is not eating, she is not sleeping,” Brereton explained.
Thursday marked the start of World Alzheimer’s Month which seeks to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.
The theme for this year is Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s, and focus will be given to post-diagnostic treatment and support for those living with dementia.
Brereton has urged Barbadians to get more involved and pay more attention to their elderly relatives.
“We have an ageing population and as the population gets older we are going to see a lot more people coming down with dementia. So we have to take care of our health and make sure that we don’t wait until it is too late to get the checks and so on,” she advised. (SD)
