A wealth of information in latest LAF newsletter

With the aim of supporting and confronting the needs of those with dementia and cognitive impairment, the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation ( LAF) issues a quarterly newsletter with a wealth of information helpful to sufferers and their care-givers and families.

Information on the Alzheimer’s Foundation’s upcoming events, schedules of free memory screenings, testimonies from family members of clients and volunteers, information related to carers, latest updates on revolutionary changes made in the treatment of dementia and services offered in general by the Foundation, are all included in the newsletter.

The most recent newsletter ( January- March 2019) includes information on the scheduled awareness programme and free memory screen- ing days, details on the annual Scrabble Bash hosted for the 10th consecutive time this year, the story of a carer, testimonies from a volunteer at the Foundation etc.

The newsletter also has messages from Professor Shehan William President- elect of LAF, Glenn Rees, Chairman of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), DY Suharya ADI Regional Director Asia Pacific and Shamil Mohamed, a client of the Foundation, at the inauguration of the Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of ADI.

Incorporated in 2001,the Foundation is the first non-statutory organization working towards supporting and confronting the needs of those with dementia and cognitive impairment.

LAF is headed by President Lorraine Yu who in her message in the newsletter highlighted the organisation’s focus on fostering dementia friendly communities. “Dementia friendly communities have the power to change the way we think about living with dementia. The four essential elements needed to support a dementia friendly community are people, communities, organisations and partnerships,” she said.

In his message, LAF President-elect Prof. Shehan Williams underlined the need to plan for better care provision and support for those affected by this condition. “Dementia is no respector of persons,” he said, adding that as a practising clinician he was overwhelmed at seeing on a daily basis so many affected by this disorder “among whom are many of my own revered and respected teachers, family members, statesmen and women….it affects everyone irrespective of race, creed or status.”

“Alzheimer’s changes a person so much. It makes the person very forgetful, isolated, lonely, sometimes very aggressive and moody, but sometimes as bright as sunshine. If you notice personality changes of a loved one, do get in touch with the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation,” writes Chirasri Sumanapala in her moving ‘Carer’s Story’ about her mother who had Alzheimer’s.

The Foundation offers a range of services to clients including counselling, training for carers, social workers and nurses, while also hosting events to overcome the stigma surrounding around this disease.

A Memories store with a variety of gift items, jewellery and clothing being sold at bargain prices, a Memory garden cafe where family members of those with dementia can spend time together undisturbed by the norms surrounding such persons and an Activity Centre that hosts stimulation activities like letter writing, music sessions, gardening and cooking too are a part of the Foundation.

The newsletter can be freely accessed on their website www.alzlanka. org, or emailed or posted free of charge on the request of the subscribers.