Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 781 Issue Date: 22 Apr, 2024

Jemimah Low and Georgia Campbell are Occupational Therapists from the Day Therapy Unit in Geraldton. Their presentation today was  “Dementia is Everyone’s Business” .

Jem and Georgia have a passion for promoting health, wellness, and inclusion within the aged community. They are passionate about empowering clients to live independently for as long as possible.

Need a ramp in your home to safely ascend and descend a few steep steps? Or a few strategies to remember where you have put your keys and wallet? Or perhaps information on making an informed choice about the best care alarm or scooter to purchase…

The skills and breadth of information is endless for OT’s!

What is Dementia?

It is a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. It can be caused by a number of diseases, the commonest being Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia affects memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. It interferes with a person’s normal social and working life profoundly affecting not only the person affected, but their family and friends as well.

The problem is serious throughout the world, and will get worse with our aging population. There are around 350,000 Australians living with dementia, every week 1800 new cases are diagnosed. If dementia were a country, it would be the 18th largest economy! (That’s presently Turkey, we are 12th!)

YOUR BRAIN IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE HEALTH ASSET, YOU NEED TO PROTECT IT ALL YOUR LIFE!

There are five simple steps to help!

1. Look after your heart! Stop smoking, watch your sugar and weight, have regular health checks!

2. Be physically active. A total of 30 minutes a day if activity is of great benefit.

3. Mentally challenge your brain! Learn new thing, like a foreign language, or a musical instrument.

4. Follow a healthy diet. Vegetables, fruit , low fat and sugar. Lots of seafood.

5. Enjoy social activity.

What to do if you are concerned.

1. There are other causes of memory change, eg, stress, pain, chronic illness, alcohol, medication.

2. Keep a list of your concerns

3. Speak to a friend or family member

4. Speak to your GP! Memory loss is not normal at any age, seek specialist advice!

The Day unit runs courses to learn about dementing illness. Particularly helpful for family and carers of people with dementia. It is important to seek help when memory and cognitive changes start affecting your life.

There are publications from Alzheimer’s Australia that are available from the website www.yourbrainmatters.org.au and www.fightdementia.org.au that has some other great resources and information if people are interested.  Both websites are coordinated by Alzheimer’s Australia.

The ladies were thanked by Douglas Bruce, our oldest member, who noted while looking around the room, that there was plenty of business for them for the future!