REACHOUT - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MALTA DEMENTIA SOCIETY Issue 2 – OCTOBER 2013

1

Welcome back to the 2nd issue of ‘Reachout’, the newsletter of the Malta Dementia Society. I would like to personally thank all those individuals who sent letters to the editor and encouraged others to follow our work. In one of the letters, a caregiver asked for tips on how to keep our homes safe. More on this on Page 2. In response to some of your comments about the use of the English language in the Newsletter, it was decided that parts of this newsletter will be in Maltese.

This issue will also focus on the upcoming Alzheimer Europe Conference which will be held in Malta between the 10th and the 12th of October 2013. This is an important event that will put Malta in the spotlight as international experts will meet to discuss the latest developments in dementia management and care. Another section will be devoted to the events organised this summer by the Dementia Support Group. These activities are proving to be a huge success. On behalf of the Malta Dementia Society, I would like to thank Anne Cuschieri and Vinnie Catania for their dedication and hard work in making these events possible. Special thanks also go to the numerous helpers for their assistance and support.

Anthony Scerri (Editor)

anthony.t.scerri@um.edu.mt Room 38, Faculty of Health

Sciences, University of Malta Msida MSD 2090, Malta

"I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy, I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy." Mother Theresa

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MALTA DEMENTIA SOCIETY

Issue 2 – October 2013Issue 1 – June 2013

http://www.maltadementiasociety.org.mt info@maltadementiasociety.org.mt

Editor’s note – Welcome back!

In this issue

Title Page No

Editor’s note ------------------------ 1

Malta in the spotlight--------------- 2

Q&A: Is-sigurta’ fid-dar ------------- 2

Dementia Support Group ----------- 3

From the diary ----------------------- 4

REACHOUT - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MALTA DEMENTIA SOCIETY Issue 2 – OCTOBER 2013

2

On the 10th and 12th October, the Malta Dementia Society in collaboration with Alzheimer Europe will the hosting the 23rd European Alzheimer Europe Conference. The motto of this year’s conference is "Living well in a dementia-friendly society". We have asked the MDS general secretary and Chairman of the organising committee, Dr Charles Scerri, about the response to this conference so far and in what ways can the MDS and the Maltese public benefit from this conference. We also wanted to know what is the role of MDS in this conference. I was delighted when I got to know that Malta will be hosting the Alzheimer Europe Conference in 2013. I knew how important this would be especially in our continuous stride to increase awareness in the Maltese Islands. Dementia in Malta is quite a recent topic and an event like this, a first for Malta, will surely add up to our commitment in making dementia a top health and social priority in Malta. I was also surprised by the feedback that I got and the support that I received for the organisation of this event. Different entitites, including policy makers and the media, wanted to be part of this. I was indeed amazed as registration forms of local delegates kept coming in. More than seventy Maltese delegates will participate.

This conference is also a milestone for the Malta Dementia Society. Although ours is a young society with very limited financial and human resources, we are committed in enhancing the quality of life of individuals with dementia and those who care for them. I cannot thank enough all those who have, throughout these years, supported us in any way they could. In these few years, we managed to increase awareness on dementia and played an important role in changing policy. This conference will certainly encourage us to continue in our effort to make Malta a dementia friendly nation.

Mistoqsija: X’ nista’ naghmel biex inżid is-sigurta’ fid-dar u nevita li l-qarib tiegħi milli jweġġa’? Tweġiba: Tajjeb l-ewwel tifhem li għalkemm tista’ tnaqqas ir-riskji, qatt ma’ tista’ tevithom kompletament. Għalhekk jeħtieġ isir bilanċ biex il-qarib jinżamm sigur u l-bogħod mill-periklu, filwaqt li nirrispettaw l-awtonomja tieghu/tagħha.

Tajjeb għalhekk illi tħares madwar darek u ssaqsi lil lilek innifsek: - Għandni dawl biżżejjed bil-lejl u bi nhar u f’kull kamra? Jekk le kkonsidra żżid aktar dwal u ‘night lamps’, speċjalment bil-lejl.

- Hemm xi periklu li jista’ jaqa’? Neħħi twapet li ma jkunux ‘fitted’ u oġġetti bħal għamara li l-persuna tista’ tinfixel fihom. - Fejn izomm il-mediċini u sustanzi perikolużi? Iċċekja li jinsabu f’post sigur. Sakkar oġġetti bħal-‘bleach’ jew diżinfettanti oħra. - X’għandek ta’ periklu fil-kċina? Neħħi oġġetti bhal skieken li jaqtgħu ħafna, imma ħalli oġġetti li jintużaw ta’ kuljum fil-viċin ħalli l-ewwel li j/ssib ikun lilhom. Ikkonsidra li tixtri kitla tall-eletriku li tintefa wahedha minflok tgħalli l-misħun fuq in-nar. Aħseb ftit x’tista’ żżid id-dar biex tagħmilha aktar sigura bħal ‘sensors’ tal-ħruq jew għargħar jew valv li jagħlaq l-gass. Tkellem ma’ professjonisti bħal-‘occupational therapists’ biex tara x’apparat jista’ jgħinek sabiex ittejjeb il-kwalita’ tal-ħajja tiegħek u ta’ qaribek fid-dar tiegħek bhal ngħidu aħna poġġamani fit-taraġ jew kurituri. U tinsiex...ħu ħsieb lilek innifsek billi titlob għal għajnuna meta jkollok bżonn...per eżempju billi ċċempel id-‘Dementia Helpline’.

Malta in the spotlight: The Alzheimer Europe

Conference Dementia Support Group

Q&A: Is-sigurta’ fid-dar

Malta in the spotlight: The Alzheimer Europe Conference

22081826

REACHOUT - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MALTA DEMENTIA SOCIETY Issue 2 – OCTOBER 2013

3

From its inception, the MDS Management Committee always felt the need to set up a support group for persons with dementia and their caregivers to facilitate their coming together in a informal and relaxing atmosphere. The organisation of this important group was taken over by Ms Anne Cuschieri and Sister Vinnie Catania who organised a number of wonderful activities during these past months. The first summer activity was held on Saturday 15 June from 9.30 to 11am in the parking area outside Zammit Clapp Home in St. Julian’s. Around 50 caregivers and persons with dementia attended. Food and drinks were provided whilst the participants were entertained with folklore tunes and sweet melodies by the well-known musician Benny. It was a lovely morning for all those who attended and had the opportunity to share their experiences.

The second support group activity was held on Saturday 20 July at Casa Arkati from 9.30 to 11am in

their multi-purpose room. Food and drinks were provided for free. About 40 people attended. Again this proved to be a very successful event.

The third support group activity was held on Saturday 31st August at the President's San Anton Palace in Attard, starting with Mass in the Russian Chapel. The group were divided in two and each had a 30 minute tour of the Palace, followed by refreshments in the Kitchen Garden.

The activity was attended by around 100 people, including a large group from St. Vincent de Paule Residence and included carers, residents from Casa Antonia, a group from Villa Messina, Roseville

and Zammit Clapp homes, together with individuals who usually attend our activities. This activity was a huge success. It was also attended by Hon. Dr Franco Mercieca, Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing who shared a few words with those who were present.

The next activity organised by the support group will be the annual Memory Walk on the 28th of September at the Ferries Sliema (opposite the Nazzarenu Church) at 9.00am. Further details are given in Page 4. Other activities planned for this year are an arts and crafts activity at the Mellieha home on 9th of November as well as the Christmas Party on the 14th December. Further details about these two activities will follow. So keep in touch and see you there! “To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honours.” Tia Walker

Dementia Support Group

REACHOUT - THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MALTA DEMENTIA SOCIETY Issue 2 – OCTOBER 2013

4

Besides the events organised by the Dementia Support Group, two talks for caregivers were also organised in Floriana at 18:00 on the following days: 19th June 2013

‘L-ispiritwalita’ fis-saħħa u fil-kura tal-persuna bid-demenzja’ by Professor Donia Baldachhino, Faculty of Health Science, University of Malta

2nd September 2013

'Understanding challenging behaviour in dementia' by Dr Janneke Horseling, Psychologist

Both activities were attended by a good number of caregivers.

Future events not to miss… 28th September 2013

A Memory Walk will be organised on the occasion of the World’s Alzheimer’s Day. It will start at the Ferries in Sliema (opposite Nazzarenu Church). The programme is as follows: 09.00 am Registration of Eur3 per person and Awareness Campaign. 10.00 am Memory Walk along the Strand up to Manoel Island and back. Please wear a white T-shirt in support and it is advisable to bring a bottle of water.

Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center: http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers Family Caregiver Alliance: http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/home.jsp Alzheimer’s Australia: http://www.fightdementia.org.au/default.aspx

Mace N.L and Rabins P.V. The 36-Hour Day: (5th Edition) A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory Loss Coste K.J & Butler R. Learning to Speak Alzheimer's: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease

REACHOUT The newsletter

of the Malta Dementia Society

c/o Room 135,

Department of Pharmacy

University of Malta

Malta Dementia Society Committee Members

Chairperson:

Dr Stephen Abela

General Secretary:

Dr Charles Scerri

Members:

Isabelle Avallone

Deborah Cachia

Vinnie Catania

Daniel Grima

Anthony Scerri

Dr Mark Xuereb

Please read this disclaimer:

The information contained in

this newsletter should not be

taken as medical guidance or

professional advice. You

should always address specific

queries concerning personal

health issues to appropriate

medical and health care

professionals.

From the diary Five star weblinks

Five star books