As awareness regarding people with mental disabilities increases, so is the number of people diagnosed with dementia and other forms of Alzheimer's disease. This condition, among others, is leaving many patients unable to cope on their own, with the burden many a time being shouldered by family members who, in their vast majority, do not have the necessary training or knowledge to deal with such a sensitive situation. Moreover, with the condition being a silent one, it is not always diagnosed immediately, sometimes causing the patient much damage and stress, both physical and mental.
When considering that five to eight per cent of people over the age of 65 suffer from this and other conditions related to it and over 30 per cent of people over 75 are afflicted, it is clear that society has to be well prepared to deal with these people who need to be monitored and taken care of.
The opening of the John Paul II block at St Vincent de Paul complex has highlighted the need to directly address this problem and give dignity to patients who were neglected for much too long. With the population of Europe growing older, it is necessary to be up-to-date with regard to the latest technology and treatment methods. It is also of supreme importance to have adequate premises to be able to house these patients having such sensitive needs.
Unfortunately, mental health carries with it a stigma and, sometimes, people do not seek help immediately. We should take immediate action to be more open about the problem and stress the fact that, even though no cure has been found for dementia as yet, much can be done to improve the lives of those affected and, subsequently, of the lives of their families. Centres like the one opened at St. Vincent de Paul are aimed to keep patients as active as possible and, even though their mental abilities are on the decline, these people should be encouraged to go on with their daily routine as much as possible, albeit under professional supervision.
Having purposely-trained personnel is of utmost importance and it is wise to invest to have the best carers possible in what should be considered not only as a nine-to-five job but as vocation that will surely make a difference in and better the lives of many people who are in care.
Elderly people, and not only those afflicted by some sort of disability, are to be treated as an integral part of society and we have the onus not to marginalise them in any way. We have to be careful not to tread the fine line between caring and patronising because this can be the cause of much damage. Those elderly people who remain active within the community and within their family are bound to suffer much less than those who find themselves inactive. One must not forget that these people have contributed to the building of society and they ought to be given due recognition for this.
We have to start looking at healthcare from a different angle, ensuring the highest standards possible and stressing the importance of community care. This, together with other schemes that the government aims to introduce, such as the community doctor, will enable us to have a healthier community and a society where everybody contributes for a better way of living.
Opening centres like the one I mentioned earlier and investing in the healthcare professions are steps in the right direction. However, providing information at an early age to our younger generation on how to lead a healthy life is the key to build a stronger society where prevention, rather than cure, will be the order of the day.
Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.