Second batch of caregivers specialising in dementia graduate |05 August 2020

A souvenir photograph of the occasion

Still intent on improving the standards of life for Alzheimer sufferers in Seychelles, the Seychelles Alzheimer's Foundation (SAF) has just completed the training of 25 caregivers in dementia. The 18-hour course started on June 20 and ended on August 1, 2020.

The participants covered essential topics such as how to communicate effectively with Alzheimer sufferers, the different stages of the disease and the types of behaviour at each stage, memory activities to help maintain the cognitive skills of people with Alzheimer's as well as how the caregivers themselves need to avoid burnout.

Looking after someone with dementia is extremely exhausting mentally, emotionally and physically and very often the caregivers do not get any type of relief as caregiving is a 24-hour task and there is very little opportunity to take a break.
The graduation of the 25 participants was held at the meeting room at the old Exiles Club of Cable and Wireless. In attendance were Michel Pierre, chief executive of Ceps (Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles) and Roseline Houareau of the National Grants Committee, various members of the SAF as well as the 9 course facilitators. 

Lise Church, patron of the SAF, congratulated the 25 participants and expressed her deep gratitude towards them.

“SAF’s purpose is to empower individuals, families and communities to provide compassionate and effective dementia care and support. Trained caregivers are of the utmost importance as delivering quality care to vulnerable people withdementia is a big challenge which our country is facing in these difficult times,” Mrs Church said.

She also put emphasis on the importance of giving all caregivers in general the dignity and respect that they deserve and urged the government to establish the right policies to enable caregivers to earn a good pay as well as reasonable benefits.

Since its foundation in 2016, one of SAF’s missions has always been to improve the lives of people with dementia.

“It is important that the government establishes policies on the rights of dementia patients. It should have an action plan on the public health response to dementia,” Mrs Church also stated. Indeed, in the WHO global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025, the first main action area listed is dementia as a public health priority. Point 16 of the booklet states that “given the range of the population affected directly or indirectly by dementia and the complexity of this condition, dementia requires a whole-of-government, broad, multi-stakeholder, public health approach…”   Another crucial action area (4) listed in the same booklet is dementia diagnosis, treatment, care and support. The required conditions as stated by the WHO are:

-       Adequately trained and qualified workforces

-       The continuity of care between different care providers, multiple sectors and system levels

-       Integrated, evidence-based person-centred care in all settings where people with dementia live, ranging from their homes, the community, assisted-living facilities and nursing homes to hospitals and hospices

The SAF has been committed all along to the above points and has been consistently urging the Ministry of Health to open a Memory Care Home specialising in the care of dementia patients. An MoU has been signed and we have been promised expert help by the Swedish government. However, the SAF has yet to see anything concrete coming out of it. Meanwhile, the SAF is continuing on its mission to train specialised caregivers, raise awareness in the community, start more regular home visits and district meetings. With its well-established support group meetings and other activities the SAF is providing much-needed support within the local population. It aims to continue in the training of caregivers as well, and the next one is planned for the islands of Praslin and La Digue.

“If it were not for volunteers, contributions from businesses and trustees, grants from the National Grants Committee, we would not be able to do what we’re doing right now and we are profoundly grateful to everyone who is helping us do this important work,” Mrs Church said.

Contributed