By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 22: There are many people living with dementia, based on hospital admissions in Sarawak, yet many have not come forward to receive the necessary services and interventions at Memory Clinic.
Minister of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah highlighted that this may be because much of society views dementia as just a part of ‘old age’ and accepts the condition as inevitable.
“However, it is important to remember that dementia is not a normal part of the aging process. There are treatments available that can slow the progression of the disease, thereby promoting independence and improving the quality of life for the elderly,” she stated in her speech when officiating at the ‘Empowering Senior Citizens Programme: Unraveling Dementia Disease’ at the Kuching Community Social Support Centre today.
With Sarawak’s elderly population of 60 years and above projected to reach 16 percent by 2028, Fatimah emphasised that the risks of dementia must be addressed holistically, as the disease not only affects the elderly but also impacts families and communities emotionally, socially, and economically.
She assured that her Ministry will continue to collaborate with medical experts, health institutions, non-governmental organisations, and relevant agencies to ensure that senior citizens in Sarawak receive the best support.
“This is the Ministry’s commitment, through efforts to implement various initiatives, assistance, and support, to ensure that senior citizens lead a quality life,” she said.
The Ministry is also partnering with Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, Universiti Teknologi Sarawak, and Curtin University Malaysia in an ongoing research project titled Preparation for an Ageing Sarawak: The Profile and Ageing Issues of Older Persons in Sarawak.
The research aims to assess the demographic profile of the elderly in Sarawak, identify the issues and challenges they face, determine their needs, and evaluate how well existing intervention programmes and services meet those needs.
“Ageing issues are among the biggest challenges we face as a community. The Ministry is deeply concerned about the welfare of the growing elderly population,” she affirmed. — DayakDaily
