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Spend 5 minutes learning about the the complexity of this issue. Make some notes? This isn't a simple issue and the better you understand dementia, the deeper your connection will be with your community partners.

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There are many different types of dementia, however, they are all caused by diseases in the brain that damage brain cells, causing them to die.

This link  gives a huge amount of detail - check out pages 11-22 for information on the types of dementia. It's a great resource to come back to later as well.

Suggestion - Share out the reading in your group and teach each other through discussion.

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Aaliya participated in the Cognitive Rehabilitation Programme with Apex Harmony Lodge Local Service in Grade 9 and 10. Here, she expresses her opinion on Singapore's success on dementia care and her own experiences working with people living with dementia. What's your take away from this video? What further questions do you have?

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Learning about how dementia develops and how people with dementia will be affected in the future can help both parties plan ahead to support one another. In order to fully understand the progression of dementia, it may be helpful to picture the development of dementia as a series of stages - early, middle and later stages.

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Listen to Mrs P talk about her experiences and feelings about the impact of working with people with dementia. What is your new learning?

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Seeing dementia through different cultural perspectives

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Seeing dementia through different cultural perspectives

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As a society, it is vital that we know and understand that dementia is not a simple topic that is interpreted in the same way all over the world. There are several nuances to dementia care, which vary according to cultural values and perspectives. It is important that we know how someone's culture can  affect their attitude towards dementia, and at the end of that day, accept that dementia is not just a brain disorder of the person suffering from it, but also a social disorder that can be understood in a variety of ways.
Read this article to explore different cultures and their approach to dementia.

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Other cultures view dementia differently. Could they help us be better caregivers? BlurryMe/Shutterstock.com

Picture two different families, each dealing with a diagnosis of dementia in one of its members. In one case, the patient is a retired executive, whose family tries as long as possible to keep the diagnosis secret, relying primarily on professional caregivers and eventually a nursing home. In another case, the patient is a grandmother. As soon as the diagnosis is suspected, her family pulls together, bringing her into their home and surrounding her with affection.

These two approaches to dementia reflect very different attitudes toward the disease. One regards it as an irreversible neurologic condition associated with considerable stigma, a problem best left to health professionals and kept out of public view. While not denying that dementia is a medical condition, the other seizes on it as an opportunity to draw together around a loved one in need, giving family members not a secret to keep but an opportunity to care.

A disease of patients and their families

Dementias touch many lives. For example, the most common dementia, Alzheimer's disease, currently afflicts 5.7 million Americans and is expected to afflict 14 million by 2050. This increase partly mirrors population growth. But because risk increases with age, the rise also reflects our success in battling other causes of death, such as heart disease and stroke, enabling people to live longer. And the effects of the disease are not confined to patients; 16.1 million Americans now provide uncompensated care to dementia patients.

If you asked a physician to define dementia, most of us would probably describe it as a neurodegenerative disorder marked by declining cognitive abilities and memory. While this account is true as far as it goes, there is a problem: attacking most types of dementia as strictly biological entities has largely failed to advance our ability to diagnose and treat it. In the case of Alzheimer's disease, definitive diagnosis still requires a biopsy, and new drugs to prevent, retard, or reverse it have proved disappointing.

A cultural perspective

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Perhaps the time has come to expand our thinking about dementia to encompass not only cellular but cultural perspectives. Our society needs to recognize that dementia is not only a brain disorder of the person suffering from it but also a social disorder that can be understood in a variety of different ways. In other contexts, such disorders tend to be viewed in light of a larger circle of social relationships and cultural traditions. All generalizations must be qualified, but we have much to learn from other cultures.

In Japan, for example, to age well is not only to avoid contracting diseases but also to maintain a circle of family and friends right up to the moment when we breathe our last. Being of sound mind and body means continuing to exert ourselves both mentally and physically, remaining deeply invested in our personal relationships and receiving help from and helping others. So long as we continue to enrich others' lives, we can remain "whole" in ways that exceed the mere absence of a medical diagnosis.

A large segment of traditional Chinese culture tends to see such matters similarly. Confucianism places a premium on family, and the decline of cognitive capacities of those who have led long and full lives can be seen not as the onset of a disease but as an opportunity for friends and family to express how much they care. Assuming increasing responsibility for an aging loved one represents an opportunity to show how strong the family really is.

The Hindu culture of India also prizes the opportunity to care for parents. What Americans tend to regard as a lamentable medical condition can be seen as a part of life's natural cycle and the passage into a second childhood. The emphasis is not on the stigma of dementia, but rather on a withdrawal from worldly affairs to focus on other more essential matters. When an older person begins to show such signs, it is time for a natural transfer of authority to younger members of the family.

Seeing dementia anew

Viewing dementia from the standpoint of other cultures can help Americans see it with fresh eyes and re-pose fundamental questions that lie at its heart. What, for example, is a person, and how is personhood situated in the larger context of family and community? How does such a condition relate to what it means to be a good person and lead a good life? To what degree does dementia fracture us and what are the possibilities that it could bring us closer together?

The point of such a cultural approach is not to argue that biomedical accounts of dementia are fundamentally wrong. In virtually any disease state, but especially with a condition such as dementia, the experience of patients and families involves social, moral, and even spiritual perspectives, no less than biological ones. Perhaps because of our high regard for self-sufficiency and independence, dementia in the U.S. it tends to be relatively stigmatized.

Conceiving of dementia in different terms could offer new opportunities for prevention and treatment. Suppose, for example, that we Americans viewed it in terms similar to physical fitness. If we do not utilize our mental, physical, and social capacities, they will tend to dwindle - use it or lose it. On the other hand, if we remain active and challenged in each of these spheres, contributing where we can to enrich the lives of others, we can ease the strain of dementia in our lives.

To be sure, healthy neurons require adequate rest, nutrition, and even medical care. But the health of a person is more than the functioning of cells. People also need opportunities to put abilities to the test, connect with others, and lead lives that make a real contribution. If we tend not only to our neurons but also our intellects, characters, and relationships, there is good reason to think that we can lighten dementia's burden and make the most of the opportunities to care for those living with it.

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Could different cultures teach us something about dementia?

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Picture two different families, each dealing with a diagnosis of dementia in one of its members. In one case, the patient is a retired executive, whose family tries as long as possible to keep the diagnosis secret, relying primarily on professional caregivers and eventually a nursing home.

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Nisha is the Local Service Officer at UWCSEA East, with ten years experience in this field. Listen to her talk about her experiences. What is your new learning?

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Watch this - What challenges might people with dementia face with their human rights?

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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Add Your Voice

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Chapter 4 gives lots more detailed ideas in this information booklet.

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Canadian Charter of Human Rights for People with Dementia

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Canadian Charter of Human Rights for People with Dementia

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This is amazing! What similarities might there be is Singapore created a similar charter? What would you add / remove?

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What is the Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia?

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Explore this site - there are seven stories from the perspective of a person experiencing dementia. Share them out amongst your group and share your learning.

Now read through pages 9-10 in this article in order to explore the social attitude to dementia in British cultures.

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Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE). According to the Well-Being of the Singapore Elderly study led by the Institute of Mental Health in 2015, one in 10 people aged 60 and above may have dementia. This translates to almost 78,000 people as of 2017. And in 2018, there were around 82,000 people suffering from dementia in Singapore.

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We interact with them in these Local Services

Music Therapy with Apex Harmony Lodge

Cognitive Rehabilitation Programme with Apex Harmony Lodge (G10/G11)

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Apex Harmony Lodge : First Purpose-Built HOME for People with Dementia (PWD) in Singapore

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Apex Harmony Lodge is the first purpose-built Lodge for Person with Dementia in Singapore. The Lodge provides Long Term Residential Care, Dementia Day Care and now into Community Care for Young Onset and Early Stage Dementia.

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...what do you think of when you hear the word 'dementia'?

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How does this deepen your understanding of dementia?

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A critical life skill - listen to Brene Brown explain why this is so transformational for yourself and those around you.

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Dementia is NOT a part of normal ageing. It is a condition that causes progressive intellectual decline leading to increasing difficulties in coping with everyday activities. Dementia affects everyone differently, but the main changes include problems with memory, thinking, concentration, language and personality changes.

Discuss with a partner...what do you think it. might be like to live with dementia?

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Dementia can happen to any of us - it does not specifically relate to elderly people. There is a large public misunderstanding when it comes to people living with dementia. They often feel misunderstood, marginalised and isolated, leading them to be less likely to live independently in their own communities.
Discussion Provocations:

How can UWCSEA students play a part in improving the quality of life of people living with dementia?

What are some things to consider before interacting with people with dementia?

How can you build understanding for something that you do not know about?

If people with dementia feel marginalised and misunderstood, what part can you play in overcoming that?

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Watch this video and be prepared to have quite a significant shift in your thinking. Consider these provocations as you watch.

How did this video make you feel?

What personal connections did you make as you were watching?

How did this change your mindset?

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More Singaporeans are being diagnosed with dementia at a younger age. Talking Point looks at the problems they face, as well as ways to prevent the disease.

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SINGAPORE: He was once an accomplished teacher and published author of two chemistry books. But two years ago, when he was only 46, Mr George Chong was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's, an uncommon form of dementia.

There was no cure, the doctor told him - and he slowly began to lose control of his daily life. Over time, he found it hard to follow instructions, do simple calculations and, sometimes, even distinguish his right hand from his left.

"Because of Alzheimer's, I was very agitated. It was so bad that I even scolded my wife: 'Why didn't you take care of me?'" said a fit-looking Mr Chong, who was an avid long-distance runner before the diagnosis.

When he could not even fill in a form and struggled to speak logically, his wife of 23 years Lynn Chong tried to dissuade him from resuming work at their tuition centre. At first, he refused to accept the reality.

"He said, 'If I'm back at work ... I'll be back to my old self,'" she recounted. "One month later, one of his colleagues called me and asked me if something was wrong. They found out that George was very forgetful."

There are an estimated 40,000 persons living with dementia in Singapore, and this number is expected to double by 2030.
WHY IT AFFECTS YOUNGER FOLKS
More alarmingly, what was once considered an "old person's" disease is now affecting younger adults like Mr Chong, who featured on the programme Talking Point. ( Watch the episode here.)

By 2016, the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) Neuroscience Clinic (Tan Tock Seng Hospital Campus) was seeing a fivefold increase - over five years - in patients with young-onset dementia, which affects those aged 65 and below.

Dementia is a term that describes a number of different conditions affecting the brain, and it robs patients of their memory and daily functions.

An estimated 4,000 people in Singapore have young-onset dementia. Many are still working and have young families when the disease sets in, the NNI said in 2016.

A study by the institute found that these patients face substantial health, social and financial problems, as well as a diminished quality of life.

"Patients are reported to have shorter survival, more rapid cognitive deterioration, greater frequency of language disturbance, as well as early and more severe behavioural changes as compared to older patients with dementia," said the NNI.

For example, Mr Chong finally had to stop work in 2016 when his symptoms worsened.

Talking Point host Steven Chia, who is two years younger, observed moments when Mr Chong would forget bits of information he had just shared with him or would have difficulty finding the right words to express himself.

"Those are the kinds of symptoms that are not apparent to the rest of us," said Mr Chia. "It's hard to imagine what he has to live with every day."

So how can one tell if a person has dementia? The bottom line is that patients usually must undergo a magnetic resonance imaging for confirmation.

What is clear is that the two leading causes of young-onset dementia are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

The latter develops when mini strokes occur in the brain. Over time, these undetected blood clots damage blood vessels and, eventually, parts of the brain. The more common cause, however, is Alzheimer's, a neurodegenerative disease that causes brain cell death.

And when young-onset dementia results, especially as early as the age of 50, it is partly a genetic inheritance, noted Associate Professor Philip Yap, the director of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital's Geriatric Centre.
FOR A SPOUSE, LOSING 'A SIDEKICK'
"Having a family member with young-onset dementia would definitely increase the risk ... (to) the children," he said.

He added that the rising number of younger patients being diagnosed is also partly caused by the upward trend in lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, with more people suffering a stroke at a younger age.

As dementia hits career people in the prime of their lives, it devastates both the individual and the family.

Mrs Chong, who used to be a homemaker, started teaching part-time in 2016 to support her husband and their three children.

"I hadn't worked for 20-plus years ... The priority has always been family. George was always the one working," she said.

I feel as if I'm doing everything myself now. It used to be that I had a sidekick, but now no longer.

To add to her load, she struggles with her husband's memory loss and cognitive decline.

"Even simple things like, if there's a bowl of food and we're sharing it, I used to say 'Okay, you just leave a certain portion for me'. He'd say, 'Yeah, yeah.' But by the time I come back, the food's all gone," she said.

Often, she has to oversee him when he does the chores, and it tires her out. "There are times when I give instructions, he nods and says yes, then he turns around and he'll do something else," she added.
A PLACE TO FIT IN
"On certain days, I think that I'm not helping him. I feel as if I'm pressuring him."

( Read the commentary: Dementia caregivers put on a brave front - while watching loved ones fade away)

This year, Mr Chong found work at the Alzheimer's Disease Association's ADAcafe in Toa Payoh, which provides a form of engagement for people with young-onset dementia.

Cafe supervisor Geraldine Sim said she must brief him on his everyday tasks "each time he comes". "That's part of being forgetful, but we make it very light-hearted ... We don't make a big deal about being forgetful,'" she said.

We want to provide a place where they can ... be themselves, knowing that whatever mistake they make, everybody is accommodating.

Indeed, Mr Chong makes the effort with his tasks, which include washing dishes and serving food. While the work is a far cry from what he used to do, he is not complaining, but rather is grateful for the opportunity.

ADA chief executive officer Jason Foo explained that the cafe was set up in 2016 precisely because people with young-onset dementia often cannot hold down a regular job, yet are too young to retire.

He hopes that the physical and mental engagement there will slow down their disease or the deterioration of their condition.

Another consideration is that other patients at dementia day-care centres or senior care centres are typically about 70 to 75 years old.
HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK
"To someone who's younger, in her 50s or 40s ... it just feels completely out of place," said Mr Foo.

"When we spoke to this group of people, a lot of them said, 'Can I do something so that I can feel I'm part of society? Don't lock me away in a day-care centre.'"

To prevent dementia, the Age Well Every Day programme, which aims to help people improve their brain health and stay active, is being scaled up to more neighbourhood centres across the island.

But, for starters, a healthy lifestyle always helps, said National University Health System (NUHS) senior consultant psychiatrist Kua Ee Heok, who advised against a high cholesterol diet, smoking and having too much alcohol.

"These are things that lead on to high blood pressure, diabetes and narrowing of the blood vessels to the brain, and then you're more prone to (dementia)," he said.

Another tip from Professor Kua: Listen to music, which can help to stimulate one's memory.

"Some people would tell me that when they heard a song, they knew exactly who the people beside them were (in the past) because the song left an imprint in their mind. It causes them happiness," he said.

And apparently, regular dancing is rated as an even better activity. One study found that it reduces the risk of dementia by 76 per cent - twice as much as reading.

This is because dancing requires co-ordination that activates several brain regions, and it improves one's mood, memory and cognitive functions, as well as relieves stress.

Prof Kua also suggests walking in parks and immersing in a green environment, to get away from the urban jungle.

"This is something very therapeutic. We've done the research and found that it lowers the heart rate and blood pressure. This is very important," he explained.

"You're able to restore the mental faculties better - (you're) more relaxed and able to cope with stress."

The NUHS researchers have proposed that the National Parks Board build therapy gardens round the island, so people can appreciate nature and "walk mindfully" as they get to know the plants around them.
Watch this episode of Talking Point here. New episodes every Thursday at 9.30pm on Mediacorp Channel 5.
"And it's wonderful for them because the brain functions," added Prof Kua.

While there is still no cure for dementia, the risk of developing the disease can thus be reduced in many ways, from exercising regularly and eating healthily to doing crossword puzzles and even playing certain video games to stimulate the brain.

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He's 48, and already grappling with dementia

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More Singaporeans are being diagnosed with dementia at a younger age. Talking Point looks at the problems they face, as well as ways to prevent the disease. (Updated: ) Share this content SINGAPORE: He was once an accomplished teacher and published author of two chemistry books.

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Dementia mainly affects the elderly  - 65 and older - but dementia can also affect younger people.

Various factors increase the risk of someone developing dementia. Ageing, genes, health and lifestyle (exercise, diet or smoking) all play a part.

Ask yourself:

In what ways are lifestyle choices becoming a problem in our communities in relation to our health?

Consider your / your family's lifestyle choices...how easily could this touch your life?

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Here is a quick review all the content explained through this first module of the investigation stage. You could download this onto your phone, to have the resource handy when you get to the action stage.

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Test yourself! Building your knowledge and understanding as you move through the 5 Stages of Service Learning (Cathryn Berger Kaye) is a critical step towards purposeful, informed action.

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Access Google Forms with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).

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Often in western cultures, familism is less valued and practiced. This is evident from the dementia statistics in the US which suggest that society’s first approach to combating dementia would be to admit the patients in a care facility even if they are one of their loved ones.

Watch this video (Brian's story - bottom of the page) to broaden your perspectives. There are great resources on this page.

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These are a rallying call for those affected by dementia (people with dementia, careers, families and more). They say that people with dementia should not be treated differently in regards to their diagnosis.

Read over this link to see what the Dementia Statements look like.

Group discussion/brainstorm:

How can we make sure that these statements are reinforced in our community?

In what ways can we ensure these statements true when visiting Apex Harmony Lodge/other dementia care centres?

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Singaporean Human Rights for People with Dementia

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Singaporean Human Rights for People with Dementia

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More than 5,600 across Singapore including persons with dementia, caregivers and general public participated in this survey

Persons with Dementia: 72% of persons with dementia feel rejection and loneliness while 50% of them feel that they cannot be open with others regarding their condition. More than 56% of them say that people treat them as less competent.

General Public: 56% of the general public rate themselves low in dementia knowledge, and more than 54% feel uncomfortable interacting with persons with dementia

Almost 80% of all respondents (or 8 in 10) say that they want to do more to improve the lives of people living with dementia

70% of all respondents (or 7 in 10) agree that persons living with dementia should live "with family in their home" and agree that Singapore needs to provide more dementia-friendly amenities.

Singapore, 29 April 2019 - Persons with dementia and their caregivers experience rejection, loneliness, shame, and feel less competent, the first national survey on dementia in Singapore has found.

This survey by the Singapore Management University ("SMU") and Alzheimer's Disease Association ("ADA") reveals that nearly 3 in 4 persons with dementia feel rejection and loneliness, and more than 1 in 2 feel that others act as though they are less competent due to their condition. Nearly 30% of caregivers feel embarrassed while caring for their loved ones with dementia in public and more than 1 in 10 feels that others around them seem awkward.

Said Mr Jason Foo, Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer's Disease Association, "Stigma affects more than just the quality of life for persons with dementia and their families. It really emphasises that we should use the right type of language; show more empathy for persons with dementia and their caregivers and aim to integrate persons with dementia into the society by building dementia-friendly communities to support them."

In measuring stigma levels towards Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias, findings show that unsurprisingly, those who hold no connection to dementia have the highest stigmatic attitude. However, this is followed closely by the persons with dementia themselves, with 1 in 2 feeling ashamed of their condition, citing stigma as the main reason.

Based on the findings, amongst the general public, males are significantly more stigmatic than females, while baby-boomers (age 70 and above) are the most stigmatic, followed by millennials (age 21 to 39) and Generation X (age 40 to 69).

While almost 60% of the general public and persons with dementia said "Yes" to incompetency in persons with dementia, 90% of caregivers disagreed that loved ones with dementia are incompetent.
More needs to be done to raise dementia awareness
Reinforcing the need for more dementia education and awareness, more than half (57%) of the general public rate themselves low in dementia knowledge and feel uncomfortable interacting with persons with dementia, with almost 44% feeling frustrated with not knowing how to help people with dementia.

It is, however, encouraging to note that nearly 8 in 10 of all respondents want to do more to improve the lives of persons with dementia. In fact, 73% think that persons with dementia can still enjoy life and that more can be done to improve their quality of life.

"We need to strive towards changing the mindset of society and break stereotypes. All of us should not focus on their (persons with dementia) deficits, but on what they can still do with their remaining abilities. It's important to recognise that they can still lead purposeful and meaningful lives," added Mr Foo.

Working closely with ADA to develop a tailored survey, Senior Lecturer of Statistics at SMU, Ms Rosie Ching, and her 99 undergraduates collated 5,679 responses across Singapore. The study formed the bedrock of a SMU-X Statistics module undertaken by students. Code-named Remember.For.Me. by Ms Ching, this is a first-of-its-kind and Singapore-wide study that draws a picture of Singapore's attitudes and awareness towards Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The survey results are available at http://www.screeningstatistics.com/alzheimers/.

Prof Lim Kian Guan, Vice Provost (Undergraduate Matters) and OUB Chair Professor of Finance, said creating greater awareness among students about society's perceptions of dementia, is one of the first steps towards nurturing citizens who can make meaningful impact to society. "Forging an inclusive society is by no means an easy task. Remember.For.Me. gave SMU students enormous exposure to a societal challenge and contributed to the ongoing national discussion on Singapore's steep greying gradient. Through this project, students gained a deep, immersive and practical hands-on experience of applying statistical methods to analyse the realities of Alzheimer's disease and dementia beyond the classroom. We hope our statistical findings will spur Singaporeans to learn more about what can be done to improve the lives of those living with dementia, as well as that of caregivers."
Takes a Society to Make a Difference
One in 10 people aged above 60 in Singapore has dementia, according to the Institute of Mental Health, with the condition affecting half of those above 85. This translated to an estimated 82,000 cases locally in 2018. The number is expected to go beyond 100,000 by 2030 and it is impossible to rely on one sole organisation to make a difference.

"ADA believes that proactive steps should be taken to educate people to be aware of dementia, be mindful of any preconceived thoughts of dementia as a debilitating condition. In building inclusive dementia friendly communities - anyone and any organisation can be part of this movement," emphasised Mr Foo. "We can look at what we do and explore ways to see how we can include persons with dementia in our everyday life and reduce the stigma."

To combat this stigma, ADA will be launching a nationwide dementia awareness campaign in June, starting with a set of Dementia-Language guidelines followed by roadshows, events, talks, videos and culminating in a public event on the 21 September on World Alzheimer's Day in commemoration of World Alzheimer's Month in September 2019.

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Background Information on Remember.For.Me.
In January 2019, SMU students in a unique Statistics module created by Rosie Ching, Senior Lecturer of Statistics at SMU's School of Economics, collaborated with Alzheimer's Disease Association (ADA) on Remember.For.Me. The study formed the bedrock of a SMU-X module undertaken by students.
Survey Methodology:
Prior to the study, Ms Ching invited ADA to SMU to speak to her students at length about the state of people's attitudes towards dementia and stigma involved. All 99 students then organised themselves in groups of 6 to 7 each and invested more than 3 months of intense work in the study, survey and analysis, gathering a total of 5,679 respondents in 5 weeks.

Students collected data via more than 133 survey questions, evaluating variables covering the relationships between the Dementia Stigma Index (DSI) and gender, education, race. The thousands of data lines subsequently underwent rigorous analysis over a 4-week period by Ms Ching and her students. The DSI measures an individual's level of openness, on a scale from 0 to 100, with 0: holding the least stigma and 100: having the worst stigma.
Quotes and Testimonials:
Rosie Ching, Senior Lecturer of Statistics at SMU's School of Economics, said: "I approached ADA to ask if they wanted to work with me in exploring Singapore's dementia landscape, recognising dementia as a rapidly burgeoning problem of worrying proportions in greying Singapore, with this disease already a worldwide epidemic. I've had my students sharing of their grandparents and relatives with dementia. My own beloved great-grandmother died of this when I was an undergraduate and her suffering during the 90's is something I'll never forget. I am deeply grateful to my students for toiling alongside me in seeing this massive Remember.For.Me. project through. It has exposed us all to a problem largely not openly discussed nor well understood but which exerts one of the most onerous burdens in society. My students and I are privileged to have worked with ADA in generating statistics which will spark greater understanding, change and improvement."

Daryl Loy, a 23-year-old undergraduate from SMU's School of Law, said: "It's never a dull day in my statistics classes where lessons are filled with real-life examples from every aspect of life. Remember.For.Me. was a perfect complement in allowing us to bring what we had learnt in class to practice. It provided us a thorough understanding of how Singaporeans felt about dementia and placed an otherwise theoretical subject of statistics, into its larger societal context. Data collection was a particularly meaningful experience, as each survey response brought about also genuine conversations about the state of dementia in Singapore. It was a good opportunity for us not only to hone our skills in data analysis, but also grounded our critical thinking abilities as we sought to make sense of the numbers in identifying policy gaps for ADA, our SMU-X partner organisation."

Claudia Si Tho, a 20-year-old undergraduate from SMU's School of Social Sciences commented: "Remember.For.Me. has been the most interesting and fulfilling project I have ever worked on. Prior to this, statistics just been like any other subject that I had to complete, but this project opened my eyes to a whole new world. I saw how statistics can come alive and impact our society positively. Through Remember.For.Me, I have hope for Singapore to progress towards being a dementia-inclusive society. I look forward to the changes in attitude and action that our project findings can hopefully help to bring about."
Photo Caption: Remember.For.Me. Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Project by SMU Senior Lecturer of Statistics, Rosie Ching (in red long-sleeved jacket) and her Statistics students. Photo includes Mr Jason Foo, CEO of ADA (in white long-sleeved shirt).

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3 in 4 Persons with Dementia feel ashamed and rejected, Singapore's first national survey on dementia finds

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More than 5,600 across Singapore including persons with dementia, caregivers and general public participated in this survey Persons with Dementia: 72% of persons with dementia feel rejection and loneliness while 50% of them feel that they cannot be open with others regarding their condition.

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Take a look here - Apex Harmony Lodge. There are several videos from their community that will really move you. Share them out amongst your group and learn from each other. VIDEOS (SG).
In Singapore 3/4 people with dementia say they feel rejection and loneliness.. Learn more about this sustainability issue here

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Mistreatment and abuse of people with dementia

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Mistreatment and abuse of people with dementia

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Often times, people with dementia feel mistreatment in their communities and in the healthcare system because of their diagnosis. Their abuse can include psychological, financial, emotional, sexual and/or physical abuse.

Split into 5 small groups - assign each group an issue to read up on:

Dementia training for staff in care homes and hospitals

Effective and robust enforcement

Dementia training and support for carers

The action of financial abuse

Robust investigation of abuses of power of attorney

Use this link to understand the issue and what actions need to be taken to eliminate this problem. Discuss your findings. How does this new learning apply to you?

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Look here for the full overview of SSD impact, interactions and Service Learning resources, and also which students you can reach out to in the SSD Executive Committee.

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HS Service Exec | UWCSEA EAST: opening eyes, opening minds, opening hearts

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Student-led partnerships with grassroots NGOs involve students researching, advocating, fundraising and taking informed direct action during Service trips and Grade 11 Project Week.

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Did you know what you are working towards? "Language shapes culture" - Cathryn Berger Kaye.

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Here's the education that you are getting through SSD - how are your efforts contributing?

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Contact the SSD team! They are experts in SSD and are happy to extend your thinking.
Mr Rick Hannah - Chair of SSD
Ms Nisha Farah - Local Service Officer

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And other great resources. Look at the 'I am More' activity - this would be a fun thing to do with your partner!

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It is hard! And add to that cultural layers. Explore this resource,  it may help with conversations starters as you prepare to meet your new friends and partners. It may also have you thinking about how people from your culture might talk about dementia.

Ask amongst your group
What are their cultural norms about dementia? What trends are there? How will this play a part in your interaction with them?

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A quiz on interacting and engaging people living with dementia.

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What are some important skills/qualities you should have when interacting with a dementia patient?, SCENARIO : You are currently conducting an online session with a resident from Apex Harmony Lodge, in which you have decided to do an online quiz with them.

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1. Introduction to Dementia

Building empathy

Who is affected

How can we as a society respond sensitively to dementia?

2. Understanding Dementia

Types of dementia

Stages of dementia

3. Dementia in Singapore

Dementia Statistics

Stories of Singaporeans with dementia

4. Cultural perspectives

How is dementia viewed  differently in different cultures?

5. Human rights and dignity

Dementia statements and rights

Mistreatment and abuse of dementia patients

6. Engagement and Interaction

How can we engage sensitively and effectively with dementia patients?

7. Our local service partners

Apex Harmony Lodge

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What have you learned in this module? Find out by taking this quiz.

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Young Onset Dementia (Singapore Tonight, Channel NewsAsia, 20 Apr 2017)

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In Asia, there is a cultural stigma around taking care of dementia patients according to which caregiving activities are the responsibility of women.

In South-asian cultures, familism (the ideology that puts family as the priority)  is a core cultural value, referring to a strong commitment to the family, therefore their first approach to dementia would be to take care of them by themselves at home.

The relationship between caregiving and perceived familial duty is common in such societies. Family caregiving is considered a natural aspect of family life, even when the initial relationship has never been good.

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Here is a quick review of quality of life for person's living with dementia.

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What have you learned in this module? Find out by taking this quiz.

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What have you learned in this module? Find out by taking this quiz.

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Here is a quick review of the different cultural perspectives regarding dementia.

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Here is a quick review of person's with dementia's human rights and dignity.

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Student Apex Harmony Lodge Chair Feedback!

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Student Apex Harmony Lodge Chair Feedback!

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1. Increasing dementia education among the UWC community and ensuring that students have adequate knowledge on the sustainability issue regarding dementia in Singapore and how to combat it.
2. Ensuring that students are given proper training in this matter in order to prepare them for interacting with dementia patients in Apex Harmony Lodge or with relatives/ people they know who have dementia