To mark World Alzheimer’s Day, the Bhubaneswar chapter of the Alzheimer’s & Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI) organised community programmes to raise awareness on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s remain highly stigmatised health concerns in India. With increasing longevity and shrinking family structures, nearly one crore people over 60 years are estimated to be affected. In Odisha, awareness remains low and care facilities are almost non-existent, while no medical cure is currently available.
Over 150 participants engaged with physiologists to learn about dementia, its risks, and preventive measures.
Psychologists Dr. Nidhee Garg (Kalinga Hospital), Manisha Mishra, and Seselsa Sen interacted with morning walkers, addressing questions on the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s, ways to delay onset, and strategies for brain health.
Silver Age Foundation trustees Lucy Patnaik and Banita Mahapatra, trained in dementia care, shared insights on the challenges of caregiving. They emphasized that the human brain is often neglected as its decay is invisible and painless.
The initiatives for World Alzheimer’s Month and World Alzheimer’s Day were supported by CSM Technologies Ltd. through its CSR programme. Ms. Lagna Pany, Director, CSM Technologies, said:
“The focus of the company’s CSR is inclusivity and that addressing issues related to the elderly is increasingly important with rising life expectancy.”
The Silver Age Foundation for Elders, managing the ARDSI Bhubaneswar Chapter, has worked for the empowerment and well-being of senior citizens since 2017. ARDSI itself has been India’s leading organisation supporting dementia and Alzheimer’s patients since 1992.