World Alzheimer's Awareness Month 2014 – Greater Mumbai

Remember Those Who Cant Remember

World Alzheimer's Awareness Month 2014 – Greater Mumbai Programme

Theme for World Alzheimer's Month™ 2014:  'Dementia: Can we reduce the risk ?'

On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st Sep 2014  ARDSI (Alzheimer's & Related Disorders Society of India) Greater Mumbai chapter and Silver Inning Foundation in association with Sophia College, SVT Home Science college, Anubhav Mumbai, Pushpa Ma Foundation, Eisai Pharma, The Metrognome, 1298 Senior Citizens Helpline, TISS, Nirmala Niketan College of Social work, Helpage India, Palliative care Dept. Bhaktivedanta Hospital, St Thomas Orthodox Church and ‘A1 Snehanjali’ Assisted Living Elder Care Home Invites you for Month long  Programme in September 2014  to create awareness about  Dementia and Alzheimer’s in city of Mumbai and nearby area. All over India ARDSI and its networking organization will hold awareness campaign. 

This event is FREE and Open for Family members, Students, Counselors, Medical and Social Work Professionals, Person suffering with Dementia / Alzheimer’s, Senior Citizens & Interested individuals, with Prior Registration ONLY. 

There will be Street Play, Brain Games, Documentary and Talks for Sensitization and awareness. Please Note the event, date and time are subject to change.

11th Sep: Vivek College, Siddharth Nagar, Goregaon West, Mumbai :  Street Play and Talk for NSS Students. Time: 10.30am to 11.30am. Contact Swati 9892014492

17th Sep: Sophia College For Women, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400026: Street play and Talk for Students and Care Givers. Time: 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Contact Mona – 9987104233   

18th Sep: SVT Home Science College, Mini Auditorium, SNDT Univ campus, Juhu. Street play and Talk for Students and Care Givers. Time: 1.30pm to 4pm. Contact 9820498738, 9821488790

20th Sep: Pushpa Ma Foundation , Dada Dadi Park , Veer Savarkar Udyan , L.T.Road , Borivali west. WALKATHON and Street Play at 5pm to 7pm. Contact Jimmy Sir 9321020723  

21st Sep: Nandakhal Church Senior Citizens Association, Nalasopara west. 10.30am to 12noon. Contact Jenet  9323919145

21^st Sep: Dadar Station Awareness. Contact Prashobh (Palliative care Dept. Bhaktivedanta Hospital) 9769928838 

22^nd Sep: Borivali Station Awareness. Contact Prashobh (Palliative care Dept. Bhaktivedanta Hospital) 9769928838  

28th Sep: St Thomas Orthodox Church, S.V Road, Chincholi, Malad West. 11am to 12.30am. Contact Tony Varghese 9820486605

PS: the event, date and time are subject to change.

Contact: ARDSI Greater Mumbai Chapter / Silver Inning Foundation: 9987104233/ 9029000091/ 9819819145/ 9323919145 (Mon to Sat 11am to 5pm). 

Email: ardsigreatermumbai@gmail.com ; silverinnings@gmail.com  ; a1snehanjali@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ARDSI/

The Pune Declaration on “Dementia- the need for a national strategy and a Call for Action”-2011

Preamble

Whereas, the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India(ARDSI), is a national organization dedicated to the care, support and research of dementia in the country and is a full member of the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), which seeks to improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their caregivers and particularly to raise awareness about the disease.

We make this Declaration to increase awareness of the rapidly increasing prevalence of dementia in India, to support the rights of persons with dementia and their family members and caregivers, and to call for action. For the purpose of this Document, dementia is defined as a chronic, progressive and terminal disorder involving deterioration in multiple areas of cognitive functioning, and one often associated with behavioural, psychological and functional impairment;

We note the number of persons over the age of 60 years and older who suffer from dementia in India  is an estimated 3.7 million in the year 2010, with 2.1 million women and 1.5 million men affected by it.[1]

We observe and stress, the devastating and debilitating impact of dementia on the individuals suffering from it, the families and caregivers of these individuals and society in general, robbing the afflicted persons primarily of their Dignity and Self- Respect, of their memory, cognitive functioning, their ability to carry out their daily chores and participate in community life, burdening families and society with the intense costs, both direct and indirect,  of health and social care related to dementia;

We observe with concern that the healthcare needs of persons afflicted by dementia are not recognized separately from the other mental health care needs of older persons, that these are not accorded the priority in government planning and programmes, and that India does not have a separate national policy on dementia and neither a national strategy on the same;

We acknowledge the declaration adopted by the International Longevity Centers- Global Alliance (ILC-GA) partners at Cape Town in 2010 and the foresight of the governments that have implemented the National Plans for Alzheimer’s Related Disorders or the National Strategy for Dementia.

We affirm the human rights of all persons, within the context of this document, emphasise the human rights of the older persons with disabilities. We recall the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which recognizes the right to ‘the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.’ We also recall the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which obligates State Parties to implement measures to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities including dementia;

We also note that the Planning Commission as well as the revised National Policy on Older Persons of India have taken cognizance of the issue of Dementia and have suggested concrete measures to address the issues and concerns of people affected by dementia;

We invite all the stakeholders of the cause of population ageing at the state and national levels to support and adopt this Pune Declaration on Dementia and strengthen cooperation in addressing dementia and its impact.

Now, therefore, the Alzheimer’s and  Related Disorders Society of India

Proclaims this  Pune Declaration on “Dementia- the need for a national strategy of India” to be a call for action from all levels of government, and for civil society, academia, communities and individuals to promote and protect the rights of persons with dementia as well as the rights of their family members and caregivers, by:

1.    Engaging in a multidisciplinary dialogue to establish a common framework of standards for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dementia;

2.    Urging the government to develop and implement national integrated policies and plans of action dedicated to dementia, including a national strategy on dementia, as well as comprehensive policies and plans of action on ageing which incorporate dementia;

3.    Urging increased funding by governmental and non governmental sources of research on all aspects of dementia and associated caregiving;

4.    Requesting and urging pharmaceutical companies to supply affordable dementia medications;

5.    Urging the government to support the provisions for the training of healthcare professionals in geriatrics in general, and in dementia in particular and also to enhance the dementia screening and diagnostic skills;

6.    Supporting efforts of governmental and nongovernmental bodies to create awareness on healthy ageing, and measures to prevent or delay the onset of dementia;

7.    Urging the media to enhance qualitative advocacy of the cause of population ageing in general, and of dementia, in particular;

8.    Supporting the efforts of governmental and nongovernmental organizations to reduce the discrimination and isolation of people affected by dementia.

9.    Providing support, including training and respite care services, to informal caregivers of older persons with dementia.

ARDSI National and all State Chapters

Chaitanya Mental Health Care Centre, Pune

International Longevity Centre-India (ILC-I)

27^th November 2011

 

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[1] The Dementia India Report 2010 (Prevalence, Impact, Costs and Services for Dementia) of ARDSI.

World Alzheimer's Day 2011 : Awareness Fortnight - Mumbai , India

The theme for World Alzheimer's Day™ 2011:  Faces of Dementia

  

On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st Sep 2011  ARDSI (Alzheimer's & Related Disorders Society of India) Greater Mumbai in association with ‘Silver Inning Foundation’ is proud to Announce Fortnight  Programme from 7^th Sep 2011 to 27^th Sep 2011  to create awareness about  Dementia and Alzheimer’s in city of Mumbai. All over India ARDSI and its networking organisation will hold awareness campaign.

 Tentative Programme detail:

1.     7th Sep - Talk / Documentary ‘Drifting Through Time ‘ at Nirmala Niketan college of Social Work , Churchgate- for Student  .Time: 2pm to 3.30pm

2.     18th Sep - Talk at Senior Citizens Asso at Everest World CHS , Ghodbandar Road , Thane . Time: 4pm onward

3.     20th Sep -Talk / Documentary ‘Drifting Through Time ‘ at SVT college of Home Science (SNDT) Juhu – for Students. Time : 1.30pm to 3pm

4.     21st Sep –Senior Citizens Memory Walk and Talk at Pushpa Maa Foundation ,Veer Sawarkar Udyan ,  L T Road , Borivali East. 5pm onwards

5.     24th Sep - Information Stall and Memory Games at  Elder Mela at TISS ,Deonar .Time: 10am to 5.30pm

6.     27th Sep - Talk/Documentary ‘Drifting Through Time ‘ at HELP Library, CST,Fort . Time: 4pm to 6pm 

Contact: ARDSI Greater Mumbai Chapter/ Silver Inning Foundation, Mobile: 9987104233/ 9819819145 ( Mon to Sat 10am to 6pm)  Email: ardsigreatermumbai@gmail.com ;  silverinnings@gmail.com

This programme is organized by ARDSI Greater Mumbai Chapter & Silver Inning Foundation in association with Nirmala Niketan college of Social Work  , Arundathi & Kiron Kaikini , SVT college of Home Science (SNDT) , Pushpa Maa Foundation ,Center for Life Long Learning -TISS , Eisai Pharma & Times Foundation/ HELP Library.

Remember Those Who Can Not Remember 

‘Alzheimer's will be on the rise in India'

With the number of elderly people in the country expected to be 9 crore in the Census 2011 report, the government has to recognise that diseases of the elderly is going to be a very important public health problem in India, said Dr. K. Jacob Roy, who was recently elected chairman of Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI).

In an exclusive interview with Shyama Rajagopal, Dr. Roy, who founded the Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), spoke about conditions of the elderly in the country and specifically about Alzheimer's disease, a complex and frightening disease that is affecting a lot of elderly. He will take on the mantle of ADI chairman for three years in 2012 at the organisation's London meeting.

What is this public health problem?
In 20 years, the number of elderly is going to double which would make India the country with the largest number of elderly in the world.

In that context, the medical problems of a large group would create a public health problem in the country. Since age is the single most risk factor of the disease, and when we have segment of people over 80 growing because of better health care and nutrition, conditions like Alzheimer's will also be on the rise.

What is the extent of the disease?
The prevalence of the disease [in India] is said to be one in 20 for people over 60 years, and one in 5 for people over 80 years. There are about 3.7 crore people affected by the disease, and the cost of treating the disease is pegged at Rs. 14,700 crore.
This is going to treble in the next 20 years as the number of affected is going to double and become 7.6 crore.

So unless we plan now there is going to be a catastrophe. Families are becoming nuclear… and if someone in our family gets dementia, who's going to take care of the person?

How is ARDSI tackling this problem?
ARDSI has come out with a Dementia India report last year — an effort of two years by experts.
When we have to convince the medical community, you need to have scientific data. The developed countries were using their country-specific report to make the Government device policies for supporting the elderly.

It is a scientific authoritative report on dementia and it contains all the statistics you need, like what the disease is all about, the number of people affected, types of dementia, cost of care per person and many more.

This report will be used to influence the Governments, both the Centre and State to recognize dementia as a health priority and include it in the national agenda. If any significant change has to happen, the Government has to accept it and make it a health priority. As the national chairman of ARDSI, the campaign is for the support.

What are the measures adopted in creating facilities for Alzheimer's disease patients?
The facilities that ARDSI is providing in taking care of patients with dementia are on par with what is happening elsewhere in the developed world.

Because we are a developing country, we should not dilute standards. Ideas were taken from the West, but are implemented taking care of our cultural ethos. So far 14 chapters of ARDSI have been started across India. Ten new places have also been identified. We have already started one in Pune. Nagpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Manipur and Srinagar are among those we will be starting soon. We are going to raise this issue in Parliament and to get Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to fund the programmes.

We need to provide more services for which Governmental support and recognition is necessary. Help to set up memory clinics in all districts, to improve diagnosis, more services like day care, home care, 24-hour residential care, information centre, training programme for doctors and more research programmes are the kind of things for which we want support from the Government.

What kind of work does ADI do?
ADI is not a medical organization, but it has individuals from medical fraternity as well as social organisations. It is an umbrella organisation for societies formed by care givers of patients. I have been part of the ADI for a long time as it was a personal experience of my father being affected by it that led me to search for what could be done.

As the chairman, the agenda will be to extend the reach of ADI where there is hardly anything happening like in Asian and African countries. The first step will be to engage world governments to recognise dementia and to encourage societies to bring out country-specific reports.

What kind of work has ARDSI done?
We started the first ARDSI chapter in Kerala as a result of the Kochi conference in 1998, the first such meeting of ADI that was held outside a developed country. It resulted in forming a group dedicated to research — primarily to developing research and epidemiological studies where hardly any work was done. ADI helped improve the scenario in research in the country from where very little data was coming in.

It also led to the formation of the Asia-specific regional group of ADI and India was the first to join in. I had been associated with ADI as the vice chairman and was also working in the elected board of ADI. The headquarters of ARDSI was shifted from Kunnamkulam (where I'm working in a hospital) in Kerala to New Delhi for better interaction with the governments.

Though awareness programmes on dementia were on for a long time, don't you think films based on the issue helped in reaching out to more people?
The impact of a commercially successful film can never be matched. Obviously it had a profound impact. One Thanmatra (in Malayalam) and one Black (Hindi) is not sufficient.

One needs to continue the efforts. More films and more activities are required to reach out to the people. [Movies should convey] information about what needs to be done for the people affected with dementia, guidelines for caregivers, what should be done and what should not be done.

There should be a change in attitude towards handling the patient.


Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/seta/2011/04/21/stories/2011042155291700.htm

Silver Inning Foundation Congratulate Dr.Jacob Roy on being appointed as Chairman ADI & is committed to support the cause of Dementia / Alzheimer's .