Making Newcastle aware about Alzheimer’s and dementia

There were also speakers from the Department of Social Development, The Legal Aid Board, Newcastle SAPS and the Newcastle Traffic Department who informed the audience about the procedures to follow when dealing with a person with Alzheimer's.

March 26, 2018

F.C. Pelser 1 minute read

Guests at the Awareness on Alzheimer’s and Dementia Seminar.

On March 15, the Newcastle Organisation for the Aged (Nofta), joined forces with various parties to host an Alzheimer’s Awareness Day.

The awareness on Alzheimer’s and dementia seminar, which was held at the Nofta Service Centre in Lennoxton, was aimed at informing people about these diseases by changing the way people who suffer from it are perceived.

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According to Mrs Mhlongo from the Newcastle Department of Social Development, the community needed to help take care of the elderly, especially those who suffered from Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“We decided to hold this workshop for the people in and around Newcastle, in order to educate people on how to deal with people who suffer from these diseases,” Mhlongo explained.

The workshop was opened by a word of welcome from the Chairperson of Nofta, Rajesh Ramdaw, whereafter Usombuso Xulu from Neuro Smart Consulting held a presentation on the causes, symptoms and general information about Alzheimer’s and dementia.

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According to Ramdaw, Alzheimer’s had the potential to cause great problems in a community, which was why residents needed to be well educated.

“I know an elderly woman who suffered from Alzheimer’s. One day she went to the local grocer and when she already got all her items, she forgot to pass by the cashier and left the shop without paying for any of the items. She was arrested for shoplifting. Situations like these need to be avoided at all cost,” said Ramdaw.

There were also speakers from the Department of Social Development, The Legal Aid Board, Newcastle SAPS and the Newcastle Traffic Department who informed the audience about the procedures to follow when dealing with a person with Alzheimer’s.

“We need to protect our senior citizens and those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia,” Ramdaw concluded.