Dementia
Dementia is a medical condition, also has social-psychological, emotional, and economic effects. People are impacted in diverse ways, where some of the apparent consequences do not result from biomedical factors but are influenced by the personality and makeup of an individual with this condition (Alzheimer’s Disease International. 2020). These impacts are also influenced by the way other people react towards persons with dementia and the manner in which society is organized. These people require a lot of social support, and one clear way of doing it is through the ‘dementia friend’ initiative.
In my view, the ‘dementia friend’ should be a moral requirement for all people due to several reasons. Through this approach, all people will be able to help those impacted with the disease on how to remain active. It’s evident that many dementia patients experience a loss of self-confidence and end up being less active with the society. Therefore, by having a large group of people understanding that the duty to take care of these people does not fall under carers and the government, it will make dementia people accepted in the community. As a moral obligation, people will find it necessary to learn more about dementia and comprehend the kind of actions that they need to undertake in order to remain active (Alzheimer’s Disease International. 2020). This way, people with dementia will be able to continue taking part in things that they love, an aspect that will have a positive impact on their lives. Besides, this is an initiative that will challenge the misconceptions that people have regarding dementia. People have developed the perception that dementia is for older adults, which is not true considering that it’s not a natural part of aging. That is, its significant impact is on a person’s memory, but it’s also possible to live a happy and comfortable life even with the condition. Therefore, by having ‘dementia friend’ as a moral obligation, people will be actively engaged in challenging the numerous myths which surround dementia condition and impact the level of care that these people receive.
The initiatives considered ‘dementia friendly’ within my community can be seen in the way a large part of the community collectively takes care of people with dementia. It’s a dementia community because everybody seems to understand what conditions such individuals are suffering from (Alzheimer’s disease International. 2020). There are certain times that such people behave extraordinarily, but anybody from the community that comes across such persons he or she takes time to listen or even guide them back home. They also go to the extent of informing their carers about their whereabouts, and such patients feel comfortable living in an area that people understand their situation. This clearly shows that a dementia community has to be founded around information concerning the social as well as economic effects of dementia, the needs, and ideas of people who live with this condition.
There are certain instances that people hold joint meetings to discuss social issues impacting our community. During these meetings, the issue of dementia people is never left out. This clearly shows that the best way to ensure a social environment for dementia people is to beat the social stigmas well as social isolation that these persons experience. The meeting approach is a practical example of how people with dementia are involved in community activities. Apart from that, some room for improvement includes ensuring that such meeting is held frequently and can be narrowed down to the appropriate needs of people living with dementia. It’s also paramount for offering people with dementia an opportunity to remain in their homes and within their communities as a guiding principle.
Reference
Alzheimer’s Disease International. (2020). Principles of a dementia-friendly community. Retrieved 23 June 2020, from https://www.alz.co.uk/dementia-friendly-communities/principles.