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ROTARIANS INFORMED
ABOUT THE WORK OF ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY. At last weeks meeting of Donaghadee Rotary Club the members were addressed by Janet Scohfield from the Alzheimer’s Society. Janet gave an overview of Dementia in general and the work of the Alzheimer’s society in Northern Ireland. The
regional office at Millbrook Court Bangor covers North Down and The Ards areas
taking in Holywood, Comber, Killinchy, Ballygowan and the Ards Peninsula. Janet
is the only staff member the rest of the work being carried out by volunteers. Dementia
is a general term for a range of physical conditions affecting the brain. These
conditions are characterised by: *A
progressive decline in mental abilities such as the ability to remember, learn,
understand, communicate and reason. *A
gradual loss of skills including those needed for everyday activities. *Changes
in personality or behaviour. Dementia
progresses with memory loss, with confusion and forgetfulness. People
may loose interest in activities and in other people. The short-term memory is
affected yet the long-term memory is intact. As the illness progresses it can
bring physical problems, which generates the need for carers Janet
explained that The Alzheimer’s Society is the leading care and research
charity for people with all forms of dementia, their families and carers. In
N.I. at the moment there are approx 20,000 people with dementia. For the under
65 the prevalence is 1 in 1000, for the 65 to 70 age group 1 in 50 for the 70 to
80 age group 1 in 20 and for the 80 + age group 1 in 5. As
yet there is no cure for dementia. Drugs are now available to treat the symptoms
of Alzheimer’s disease in the early stages. Treatment may also be available
for some of the effects of dementia such as depression and sleeplessness. Much
can be done to help the person with dementia to enjoy and get the most from
their life. Janet
posed the question who can people turn to for help? The first port of call is
usually the G.P. who can make referrals to specialists. Other agencies are
Social Security Agencies and The Alzheimer’s Society. President Les Jones thanked Janet for her interesting and informative talk and pointed out that he had seen the effect the illness had on a friend and how it was almost as bad for his wife as his carer. |
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