Only 5% Get Treated for Dementia in State of Goa,India

There is a treatment gap of more than 90% for dementia patients in Goa. A study in Goa has revealed that only 51% of patients with dementia are taken to a doctor. Of these, only 5% receive diagnosis and treatment for the condition.

Shockingly, in some cases of dementia detection, families refuse to give dementia specific medication to the patient, mainly citing reasons such as high cost of medication, the family doctor advising against taking medication, and the fear of side effects.

The other major barriers to closing this treatment gap include low levels of awareness about dementia as a medical disorder amongst people, besides scarce care arrangements for elders in the public health sector and the specialities of old age psychiatry or geriatric medicine being poorly established in the state.

The study notes that though dementia is widely recognized, the condition is not thought to constitute a health problem and is construed as a normal part of ageing by both primary health practioners and family members, reveals the study, Closing the treatment gap for dementia in India', conducted by 10/66 Dementia Research Group India. It has been published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry in 2009.

Not surprisingly, Dr Amit Dias from the department of preventive and social medicine, Goa Medical College and Hospital, who spearheaded the study said, "Dementia is construed as a normal part of ageing and not perceived as requiring medical care. Thus, primary health physicians rarely see this condition in their clinical work and the problem is occasionally attributed to abuse, neglect, or lack of love on the part of children towards a parent."

According to statistics available with the Goa Dementia Society, there are around 3000 people with dementia in Goa, of which about 8.3% persons are above the age of 60. The study notes that these numbers are expected to increase dramatically in the years to come due to the demographic transition, especially with life expentancy increasing.

According to the study, even the care for those with dementia in Goa was almost entirely family-based, with little or no formal services in the state, thus making them more vulnerable.

"Though we pride ourselves on the system of family care and support for older persons, elderly care is often conditional upon the child's expectation of inheriting the parent's property," the study notes.

This, Dr Dias said, has an adverse affect on patients and they experience dependency anxiety'. "People are often neglected in their homes and sometimes abused.

"This leads to dependency anxiety' among older persons, besides the stigma associated with the psychological and behavioral problems associated with dementia. This is the situation not just in Goa but throughout the country," said Dr Dias.

"An effective home based intervention reduces caregiver burden, promoting caregiver mental health and reducing behavioural problems in elderly persons with dementia, Dr Dias added..

Source: http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/world/2009/dementia.htm

New Tool Helps Predict Alzheimer’s Risk in Elderly

Could how fast you button your shirt be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease?

It may. Those are the intriguing findings from researchers who developed a risk tool for Alzheimer's disease. The findings appeared in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Various tools have been developed by researchers over the years to assess the likelihood of somebody developing heart disease, say, or breast cancer, or diabetes. However, no such tool currently exists for Alzheimer's. Now, researchers have developed a preliminary tool that may help predict whether someone age 65 or older is at low, moderate or high risk of developing dementia over the next six years.

"This new risk index could be very important both for research and for people at risk of developing dementia and their families," said study author Deborah E. Barnes, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. “It could be used to identify people at high risk for dementia for studies on new drugs or prevention methods."

In addition, Dr. Barnes added, "The tool could also identify people who have no signs of dementia but should be monitored closely, allowing them to begin treatment as soon as possible, and potentially helping them maintain their thinking and memory skills and quality of life longer." Such a tool could also be useful for providing predictive information to concerned patients and their family members.

The risk index was developed from findings from the ongoing Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study. People who scored eight or more points on the scale, which ranged up to 15, were at high risk of developing dementia in the next six years, the study found.

Several of the items on the scale are well-known risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. These include being an older age, having low scores on tests of thinking skills, and having a gene that has been linked to the disease.

Other factors predicting dementia risk were more surprising. People who are underweight, do not drink alcohol, have had coronary bypass surgery, or are slow at performing physical tasks like buttoning a shirt are more likely to develop dementia than people who do not have these risk factors, the researchers found.

To develop the index, researchers in the Cardiovascular Health Study examined 3,375 people whose average age was 76. None had signs or symptoms of Alzheimer's at the start of the study, and they were followed for six years. During that time, 480 of the people, or 14 percent, developed Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. The researchers then determined which factors best predicted who would develop dementia and created the point index.

A total of 56 percent of those with high scores on the index developed dementia, compared to 23 percent of those with moderate scores and 4 percent of those with low scores. Overall, the index correctly classified 88 percent of the participants.

Dr. Barnes said the risk index needs to be validated with other studies. She and her colleagues are determining whether a shorter, more simplified index could be as accurate as this index.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.



Source: http://www.alzinfo.org/newsarticle/templates/newstemplate.asp?articleid=356&zoneid=10

Silver Inning Foundation: NGO working for Senior Citizens

We at Silver Inning Foundation are committed to ensure that ageing becomes a positive, rewarding experience for all. Ageing gracefully is the way of life we promote.We wish to help elders and their family members to overcome the challenges of ageing and show them the way to live with dignity in their sliver years.



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Lets promote Society for all Ages.

Once again Senior Citizens Ignored by Finance Minister of India

Older people are especially vulnerable due to their physical frailty and lack of mobility. Old age comes with its share of problems. As a person grows older his regular source of income dries up. In such a scenario, the government needs to lend a helping hand to the Senior Citizens.

Most of the older persons in India have no social security, especially people living in rural areas and working in unorganized sector. While 30 per cent of them live without proper meals a day, an estimated 55 per cent of the older population consists of women, with no support whatsoever.

India's 90 million Senior Citizens wants the government to utilize their skills for mutual benefit, range from safety to pension and income security, raising tax exemption limit and subsidy to health benefits.



The Budget 2009 offered peanuts to Senior Citizens:
The Budget proposes to increase the personal income tax exemption limit of senior citizens by Rs 15,000--from Rs 2.25 lakh to Rs 2.40 lakh. Although the exemption limit has been raised, the net savings would amount only to about Rs 1,500 for senior citizens.

The government has cleared the air on the taxation process of the New Pension System, but still long way to go.




Wish List by Senior Citizens for Indian Finance Minister:

• Total exemption of all taxes for people 75yrs and above


• IT exemption upto 25% in personal income for people between 60yrs to 74 yrs


• Comprehensive Medical Insurance for all above 60 yrs of age


• Minimum 25% concession in Hospital bills in all Trust and Government Hospitals


• Tax benefits for organization providing Elder Care and Geriatric service


• Tax benefits for children’s looking after Elderly


• Disability Concession to person and family of person suffering from Dementia and Parkinson


• Low budget Homes for Elderly


• Tax benefit for Builders and developers for reserving 5% of flats to Elders/disabled


• Promotion of Elder friendly village concept then Old age homes


• Ration benefit/subsidy for BPL elderly


• Comprehensive NPS for all


• Uniform Pension for all


• Social Security for people above 60 yrs and above to be increased upto Rs.3000/- p.m


• Tax benefit and subsidy for organization manufacturing Elder care products


• Tax benefit for R & D in products and services for Elderly


• Tax benefit for Universal Design Building and products


• More clarity on Reverse Mortgage and its implementation


• Promotion and tax benefit for Alternative Therapy


• Income generation and livelihood scheme like NREGA should be started


• SHG should be started in each Taluka

Government should STOP abusing the helpless Senior Citizens and must seriously consider providing better health care, social security and other benefits so that they can live with dignity, peace and security for rest of their life.

Promotion of Community base care and Ageing in place should be most important aspect of road map for successful and productive ageing.

Lets support the most neglected and ignored segment of our society, our Elders.

Nana Chudasama: Silver Personality of the Month - June 2009

Nana Chudasama: Born to serve the society

Padma Shree Nana Chudasama is an eminent jurist and a former mayor and Sheriff of Mumbai. He is the founder of the NGO Giants International which has over 500 branches in India and branches across the world including the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Mauritius and Ukraine. Giants undertake projects which have an impact on society, such as family welfare, disaster management, education, and environment and so on.

On June 17th 2009 Nana Chudasama celebrated his 75th birthday in Mumbai.
Chudasama is also the president of "I Love Mumbai" which he founded when he was Sheriff of Mumbai. The organization focuses on the greening, beautification and cleaning of Mumbai. Till date he has been the only sheriff to be granted a second term in office. He is also the President of Forum Against Drugs and AIDS which he founded, chairperson of the National Kidney Foundation, Founder President of Common Man's Forum, an organization to safeguard the interests of the common man; Convener, Relief and Rehabilitation Committee, Government of Maharashtra, which assists Mumbai bomb blast victims of 1993. He was also the national president of Jaycees, which had earlier awarded him the Young Man of India Award; former president of Indo-American Society. He is also a member of the Task Force of the Government of Maharashtra to prepare action plan for transforming Mumbai into a better city.

Nana Chudasama’s parents wanted their son to marry not just any Hindu but someone from their own caste – a Rajput. His wife Munira Jasdanvalla’s family believed their daughters must be well-educated but not employed. The two met at a workplace in 1966 and chose to become mates for a lifetime. The silver lining to this problem is that some brave individuals have taken life into their own hands, defied society and proved that barriers of religion, caste, and nationality do not jeopardise their happiness. Nana began on a determined note: "Whatever people may say, this country is a secular country and I have great faith in secularism. No one has tabooed me because I married a Muslim. This is the inherent strength of this country. Any nation that calls itself secular must encourage inter–community marriages."

Mr. Nana Chudasama was the pioneer of the only India based social service organization Giants International which now has over 500 branches all over India and abroad .This organization was solely started by him with service to humanity as its main objective. Besides projects done in various fields such as Family welfare, Disaster Management programmes during earthquakes, floods, and other National calamities, Environmental projects , Support to the differently abled, Medical, Educational and Water Harvesting Projects , he has motivated all the Giants members to take up Family Planning programmes in their areas. In fact he has introduced Family Planning as top priority project for Giants and has instituted a number of Awards for Groups achieving the target operations to be carried out in their area. For the last couple of years he has initiated 38,000 family planning operation which are certified. He has also initiated numerous awareness and educational camps in slum areas for Family Planning. In the coming year he has a target of completing 50,000 operations.

Clean Mumbai, Green Mumbai, has been the slogan coined by Nana , when he started “ I Love Mumbai’during his term as Sheriff of Mumbai in the year 1989. Since then ‘I Love Mumbai’ has been distributing 50,000 free saplings annually, to make Mumbai green and reduce the pollution in the atmosphere. He has taken up a number of projects towards the beautification and cleanliness of the city, the major one being the protection, upkeep and illumination of heritage buildings such as Rajabai Tower, Asiatic Library, Wilson College and Police Head quarters. Other projects of ‘I Love Mumbai’ include annual white washing of Marine Drive promenade and compound walls, Sponsoring Swachalayas, Indoor Plants Exhibitions held twice a year etc.
In recognition of his achievements in his term as Sheriff, he created history by being the only Sheriff to continue in the office for the second consecutive year 1990.

He is the Founder president of Common Man’s Forum, an organization which has the primary concern of safe guarding the interest of the common man, leading him to be actively involved in consumerism, and is on the Advisory board of COUNCIL FOR FAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES.

During his term as Sheriff he also started the Forum Against Drugs and Aids and is the President of this center for prevention of Drug Abuse and Aids. He was the pioneer in organizing Drugs Abuse Awareness, through public support and medical assistance as well as providing cure through rehabilitation programme . A Hospital for the purpose was founded called The Bhardawadi Hospital for the cure of Drug addicts. Free Test for HIV are also carried on at the centre and those found HIV+ are given free medicine and counseling. He has also initiated in producing a film on Aids Awareness called ‘Roshini’.

Nana was instrumental in bringing the Jaycees to Bombay(now Mumbai) which is a leadership oriented organization and spread the movement throughout the country. He was awarded the most outstanding Young Man of India Award of the Indian Jaycees in 1963 and became the National President in 1966.

He was actively connected with the INDO AMERICAN SOCIETY and was elected President twice.He was the President of W.I.A.A. the Western India Automobile Association the largest automobile association of its kind. The main interest of this organization is the welfare of motorist.

He was nominated as a Member of the Task Force set up by the Government of Maharashta in July 2004 comprising of eminent citizens to prepare an action plan for transforming Mumbai into a world class city.

This multi faceted personality is also Advisor and Trustee of many organization like the UDRI- Urban Design & Research Institute, Population First, Bombay First, etc. and Patron of Prashanti Cancer Care Mission, The Estate Agents association of India and Milan International.He the Head of the Jury for the Marshalls Comedy Awards.
Nana Chudasama, was conferred with the title of Padma Shree by the President of India on March 26th 2005 for contribution towards the welfare of the society as a committed social worker.

Constantly in the lime light he is the author of the catchy, popular and thought stimulating banners which appear regularly at Marine Drive in Mumbai which he has now been writing for a record breaking 30 years, a feat which deserves a entry in the Guinness Book of World Record. He is truly an active social commentator and his satirist style of "banner art" is one of the best-known facets of the city.

Social Activist and Fashion Designer Shaina NC is daughter of Nana, He has 4 grand daughters, and a grandson. His oldest granddaughters are Aahana and Aashti Miller.
There has been no aspect of social work which does not bear his imprint.

Nana you are born to serve the society.

Contact:
GIANTS INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
2nd Floor, Orient Club Building,
9,Chowpatty Sea Face,
Mumbai 400 007.
Maharashtra, INDIA.
Telephone : 91-22-2367 9698, 91-22-2368 1774
Fax No. : 91-22-2364 9274
E-mail: support@giantsinternational.org
Website: http://www.giantsinternational.org/home.html


Courtesy: http://www.silverinnings.com/Silver%20Personality%20of%20the%20month.html

DEMOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF POPULATION AGEING - INIA , UN Malta International Programme

As for the past 15 years, the International Institute on Ageing, United Nations – Malta (INIA), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, will be organising an International Training Programme in the Demographic Aspects of Population Ageing and its Implications for Socio-Economic Development, Policies and Plans. The programme is going to be held in Malta, between 23 November and 4 December 2009.


BACKGROUND
Populations are ageing in an unprecedented manner. Over 70% of the older people will be in the Developing Countries,where the number of older people will more than double in the next two decades.They will require new policies and infrastructure - changes that must be based on demographic data and projections.


OBJECTIVES
The training programme in Demography designed by an International Expert Group is geared towards achieving a working knowledge of demographic concepts and techniques. Participants are helped at acquiring the methodological approaches,tools and techniques in demography adopted in assessing the conditions of older persons at global, regional and country level.In so doing, participants gain an ability to convey information effectively to policy makers.


AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
The programme will consist of lectures and seminars. Topics dealt with are the Basic Demographic Concepts; Factors determining Population Structures; Data quality, Reliability and Availability; Projections; State-of-the-art Research and Modelling initiatives; Ageing and National Development; Health Implications of Ageing; Groups at High Risk; Social Status and Roles; Family; Community; Labour Market; Income Distribution/Economic Security; Health Expectancies.


WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS COURSE
Potential course candidates should be:
a) Working in the areas of planning and/or research at population level in their country or in an academic national or
international organisation
b) Having a very good working knowledge of English (including computer software in English)
c) Be literate in computers with good working knowledge of Excel or similar software
d) Working in an ageing related field.



APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested persons and organisations may apply by sending the following to:
The Director,
International Institute on Ageing,
117, St. Paul Street,
Valletta VLT 1216,
MALTA.


1. An application form which is available through the Institute's web-site or directly from INIA.
2. Proof of proficiency in English
3. A letter of recommendation from the Director of your organisation
4. A personal letter (giving reasons for attending the course)
5. Copies of relevant certificates




Closing date for applications is 15 September, 2009.


No applications can be considered after this date. Prospective candidates should be fluent in English and applications are especially invited from candidates who are working in the field of ageing. The Institute has a limited number of scholarships for deserving candidates in the field of demography or statistics. Chosen candidates will, however, to pay for their flight to and from Malta.


Course Fee: US$ 1750 (includes tuition, board-accommodation and meals but excludes travel).

INIA might have available a limited number of partial scholarships.However, since these are extremely limited,it is in the interest of prospective candidates to secure alternative sources of funding.


Contact:
International Institute on Ageing,(United Nations - Malta)
117, St. Paul Street,
Valletta VLT 1216,
MALTA
Telephone: (356)-21-243044/5/6
Telefax: (356)-21-230248
E-Mail: programmes@inia.org.mt
Web-site: http://www.inia.org.mt


About INIA:
INIA, was set up by a resolution of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which recommended to the UN Secretary-General the establishment of such an Institute to meet the needs of trained personnel in the field of aging, especially from developing countries. The Institute was inaugurated on 15th April 1988, by the then UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been giving sterling support towards the implementation of the Institute’s activities and has provided substantial financial support to its programmes.

Fun Activities For Improving Senior Health

Something as simple as moderate exercise and physical activity can vastly improve senior health. Some people think exercising is a punishment. Possibly you think that because you’ve retired, you have the right to relax all day, correct? But resting isn’t an excuse for laziness; we can workout and have fun concurrently! We need to see that exercise is not always a chore. There are many pastimes that are pleasant as well as advantageous to our wellness and happiness.

But remember there’s nothing to dread. Just because you are a senior citizen doesn’t mean that you’re going to get hurt. As a matter of fact, research has found that it is more damaging to a senior’s health NOT to workout. Scientists are learning more and more that remaining physically engaged can delay - and even avert - ailments and diseases that people have perpetually accepted as “simply part of old age.”


Walking

People underestimate the numerous advantages of walking. If you take a short walk around your neighborhood or through your local park, you can vastly enhance your health. Many elders delight in “mall walking.” This pastime ensures that you do not need to worry about the dangers of weather conditions: you can always sustain your exercise when it is raining or sunny outside. In fact, call for a few friends if you go; many most seniors learn that walking is more gratifying if they turn it into a friendly event. Many older people love hiking out of doors; this is great cardiovascular exercise, and you can function at whichever pace you find most sufficient.


Swimming

Most older people are passionate about swimming. It is common for people to find it to be comfortable and enjoyable. It will use every one of your muscles, and it is light on the joints. If you endure the pain of arthritis, swimming is idyllic for you. Remember that you don’t need to swim laps, either; a lot of people prefer water-based aerobics.


Tai Chi and Yoga

Of the many forms of martial arts, Tai Chi is one of the earliest. It concentrates on movement, balance, and coordination. Speed is not a requirement, so many seniors find it to be ideal. If you find Tai Chi to be accommodating, you might want to try yoga. Although it demands a bit more stamina, yoga can immensely enhance the power and flexibility of your muscles. Also, a lot of yoga exercises are specifically designed for the alleviation of back trouble, which bothers a lot of of the elderly.


Sports

A lot of people underestimate the advantages of engaging in sports. Take part in a biweekly round of golf with some buddies, or sign up for a neighborhood bowling league. It isn’t a requirement to risk injury to preserve your well-being; you can just try out some of these casual and pleasurable hobbies to increase your life.

By Nicholas Hurd

Source: http://eldercareabcblog.com/fun-activities-for-improving-senior-health/