Joseph Spiteri covered all mirrors at home as his wife was growing scared of glass. But when she was admitted to St Vincent de Paul Residence for the Elderly she was surrounded by glass and grew confused.
“Relatives should be consulted when decisions are taken about patients with dementia.
“I would have told them that she is scared of glass. I could also have told them that she gets confused when during lunchtime she is surrounded by so many people in the eating hall.
“It was so difficult to let her go after 50 years spent together and all I am asking for is to live her last years with dignity,” said Mr Spiteri, who visits his wife twice daily.
Mr Spiteri was speaking at a seminar where carers and professionals were asked for feedback about the draft of the national dementia strategy for the years between 2015 and 2023. Family Minister and President-nominee Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca launched the meeting noting that the public should contribute to this strategy as it did not only affect those who already suffered, or will later on suffer, from the condition, but also those who cared for people with dementia.
“Sometimes I meet people who don’t realise that their relatives are suffering from the condition or others still who don’t accept it, and this does not allow for an adequate environment for people with dementia. Awareness is important as when we don’t understand dementia, the attitude we take impinges on dignity.”
Also at the launch, Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Franco Mercieca noted that the strategy was building on the work carried out by former MP Mario Galea. He insisted on the importance of early diagnosis and having care plans for patients suffering from dementia.
Researcher and senior lecturer Charles Scerri was last year appointed as the focal point for dementia to develop a national strategy, and a draft was presented last month for public consultation with the main stakeholders, including relatives of sufferers.
Yesterday he said that in 2010 there were more than 5,000 people with dementia, a number which will grow to nearly 10,000 by 2030 and 14,000 by 2060. The condition also affected those who lived with sufferers and some carers actually suffered from depression, breakdown, anxiety and guilt feelings, he added. Among others, the new strategy was calling for a multi-disciplinary team to coordinate care and management of people with dementia and suggested more training of carers, students and professionals.
And while medicines needed to be revised regularly, there was also the need of non-pharmacological intervention, like dance, physical exercise and music therapy, Dr Scerri said.
The seminar included comments from visibly emotional relatives of sufferers of dementia.
Louisa Grech noted that while the service at St Vincent de Paul was good, the quality of life of her mother was not as good as it could be. “Most of the residents spend the day staring at doors and windows. There is no dancing and no music, as suggested. The activity unit is far away, and the garden lays abandoned.
“Dementia is spread through the home for the elderly, and just like they broadcast Mass and the Rosary on the PA system, they could broadcast music during the day.”
Occupational therapist Jason Farrugia agreed that interaction with residents should increase. In one particular case, a patient with Alzheimer’s could not sleep at night.
After spending just 15 minutes with her for three consecutive days, she regained her sleeping routine.
www.activeageing.gov.mt