Bhubaneswar: On World Alzheimer’s Day, the Bhubaneswar chapter of Alzheimer’s & Related Disorders Society of India organized programs for community engagement and awareness on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The programs were held at Buddha Jayanti park, Niladri Vihar, Bhubaneswar for morning walkers. More than 150 people of different ages interacted with phycologists and to know about various aspects of dementia. Many persons were interested to know about how to prevent dementia. The morning walkers also participated in memory games for which prizes were given. Phycologists Dr. Nidhee Garg from Kalinga Hospital, Manisha Mishra and Seselsa Sen interacted and answered questions from the morning walkers about the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s, prevention of dementia and about care for a healthy brain. Trustees of Silver Age Foundation for Elders, Lucy Patnaik and Banita Mahapatra who are trained in dementia care explained to the public about care the challenges and issues of dementia care. The brain in the human body is one of the most neglected organs since it can neither be seen nor does its decay cause pain.
A program was also held for engagement of senior citizens at Utkal Galleria Mall at Kalpana Square in Bhubaneswar. Senior citizen members of Silver Age Foundation for Elders staged dance performance and chorus songs to show that remaining active was key to prevention of dementia. Many visitors to the mall were amused and joined in when senior citizens did a flash mob at the mall. The event in the mall also included talks and interaction with the public by phycologist Dr. Soma Mishra. The program was coordinated by Dillip Das, Executive Director of Silver Age Foundation for Elders and managed by partners Prelude Events. The programs for World Alzheimer’s month and World Alzheimer’s day at Bhubaneswar are supported through a CSR project of CSM Technologies Ltd. which provides Informational Technology services and transforming solutions for Governments and industries across the world. Ms. Lagna Pany, Director, CSM Technologies said that the focus of the company’s CSR was inclusivity and the need for addressing elder related issues is very important with increasing longevity.
The programs for World Alzheimer’s month and World Alzheimer’s day at Bhubaneswar are supported through a CSR project of CSM Technologies Ltd. which provides Informational Technology services and transforming solutions for Governments and industries across the world. Ms. Lagna Pany, Director, CSM Technologies said that the focus of the company’s CSR was inclusivity and the need for addressing elder related issues is very important with increasing longevity.
Silver Age Foundation for Elders is Odisha’s only social organization working exclusively for empowerment and wellbeing of senior citizens, since 2017. It runs a healthy aging centre for the engagement of elders through yoga, dance, music, digital and technology for seniors, legal etc. classes. The Foundation also manages the Bhubaneswar Chapter of Alzheimer’s & Related Disorders Society of India. ARDSI is India’s leading national organization working with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients since 1992. It has 20 chapters across India.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s is a growing issue in the society and highly stigmatized. With nuclear families and increasing longevity, it is estimated that almost a crore of people above 60 are affected by dementia Alzheimer’s disease. The facilities for care are completely absent in Bhubaneswar and Odisha and awareness is minimal. The disease doesn’t have a known medical cure till now.
