Thornhill Manor’s build-up to World Alzheimer’s Day included a food market for residents on 18 August.
World Alzheimer’s Day, commemorated on 21 September, sees people unite across the globe to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.
According to Alzheimer’s International, the World Alzheimer Report 2019 states that many people still wrongly believe that dementia is a part of normal ageing – this alone highlights how important public awareness campaigns are for changing perceptions and increasing existing public knowledge around Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“With the number of people living with dementia set to almost triple by 2050, it’s so important to recognise the risk factors associated with dementia and take proactive steps towards risk reduction,” says Karen Griesel, Thornhill Manor’s social worker.
This year’s theme for World Alzheimer’s Month, ‘Never too early, never too late’, thus centres on the key risk factors and risk reduction to emphasise their crucial role in delaying and potentially preventing the onset of dementia.
“The food market was very successful, with staff, residents, friends and family participating. The event was buzzing from the onset, and we sold out of our pancakes and boerewors rolls way ahead of our allocated time,” says Karen.
“Thank you to every volunteer and everyone who donated something to make the market a success,” she adds.
Residents also enjoyed their time with Sergeant van Wyngart from Sandringham Police Station and her social welfare team, who helped to raise awareness around elders’ needs and care.
Emmerentia Booysens (looking away), Maureen Scholfield, Brenda Bromfield and Vicky Keenan.
Ruth Meredith, Milena Palmer and Yvonne Ciapparelli.
