Gib needs to focus on its own ‘unique dementia challenges now’ - GADS

Dementia is growing it is a global challenge and a problem facing society today with more and more people affected by it. This is the message from the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society as it prepares to hold its annual awareness day today and World Alzheimer’s Day next Wednesday.

Chairperson Daphne Alcantara emphasised dementia touched many families in Gibraltar but “the quality of care people get after a diagnosis of dementia can vary and this has to change”.

“Dementia will take a huge toll on health and social care services and today we are facing one of the biggest global health and social care challenges.  Gibraltar will have its own unique challenges and we need to start focusing on these challenges now,” she insisted.

It is time for action, she told the Chronicle, with an urgent need for both the Dementia Day Care Centre and Residential Unit (at the Old Naval Hospital) to be up and running “in order to alleviate the needs of dementia patients and also help their caregivers and families cope better with the mental and physical strain of looking after loved ones living at home.”

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