As part of the dementia awareness drive by Samvedna Senior Care Foundation, seven free memory screening camps were conducted across Delhi NCR and Gurgaon in the month of March-April 2019. Areas covered included RWAs/SCAs of Safdarjung Enclave, Sukhdev Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, and Samvedna senior centres in Gurgaon and Anand Niketan, Delhi. More than 100+ people were screened for memory impairments and related concerns.
Why you should attend a memory screening, if you are above 55 years of age
A memory screening is an evaluation of memory and thinking skills. It can help in deciding if a detailed assessment is required by a geriatric physician or neuropsychologist.
After the age of 55 years, some decline in cognitive function is expected. However, if the following symptoms are seen, it might be a sign of dementia.
- Forgetfulness
- Trouble remembering directions
- Confusion or disorientation
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks
- Trouble in making decisions
- Repetitive questions
The initial signs of dementia have been found to be present even 10 years before getting a formal diagnosis in many people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
If such people receive timely help, then the disease can be slowed down drastically. This helps improve the quality of life for those suffering from dementia and their caregivers.
Insights from the Samvedna Senior Care Foundation Drive for Dementia Awareness
From our experience, we have learnt that many people are unaware of the symptoms of dementia. Many didn’t know that a family history of stroke or heart attacks contribute to a high risk factor for themselves developing dementia and related diseases.
Mild cognitive impairment is often mistaken to be a sign of normal old age. It can be caused by reversible conditions such as vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems, or by illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. We were able to provide information about the difference between dementia and normal aging.
Many of the screening participants expressed their interest in learning more about dementia and how to take preventive action against developing cognitive impairment and living productively in their old age.
Attending a memory screening also helps you see how your memory is now and helps in providing a baseline for future reference.
Several senior citizens are facing mental health challenges and were recommended for counselling to address their tensions and help improve the quality of their lives.
Samvedna Senior Care Foundation was set up in December 2016 to promote dementiacare and active ageing.
We bring together dementia caregivers through a support group and have community based programmes for seniors with early dementia, depression or other minor cognitive impairments.
We facilitate active ageing through senior centres, and events and workshops on subjects like learning smartphones, interpersonal relationships and more.
All our counsellors are psychologists or gerontologists.
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