Dementia sufferers are not witches
28 October 2015
The City of Johannesburg is hosting a series of gatherings, throughout its seven Regions, as part of the Dementia Awareness Campaign.
Dementia affects elderly women more than their male counterparts, a packed AlexSan Kopano Hall in Alexandra, in the City of Johannesburg’s Region E, heard during a community meeting last week.
The campaign, spearheaded by the City’s Department Social Development, seeks sensitising communities about the devastating effects of the disease, how to recognise its symptoms and what steps to take when dealing with someone afflicted by it.
In her presentation, dementia specialist Dr Carla Kotze of Gauteng Health said most communities tended to confuse people suffering from the disease with witches. She said as dementia was a progressive change in memory and thinking, most of the sufferers tended to even forget their names, where they come from or where they are going. She said although anyone could suffer from dementia, it was common among people over the age of 65.
Dr Kotze said early detection meant sufferers could have access to immediate support, information and medication. She said it was crucial for dementia sufferers to have the opportunity to take part in planning the rest of their lives and their finances, and indicating their wishes regarding future care.
Dr Kotze explained that Alzheimer’s disease was the most common type of dementia but added that there was no single specific test that showed whether someone had dementia. Sadly, she added, there was no known cure for the disease and that tests and research were ongoing, especially in Canada.
Dr Kotze also could not rule out the role that African traditional medicine could play in helping to find a cure for the disease, even though for a proper diagnosis one would need a physical and neurological examination, which would look at other possible causes.
Residents who attended these meetings were urged to act as dementia ambassadors by taking the message to fellow community members.
Project coordinator Busi Nkosi urged the gatherings to be on the lookout for strange behaviour in people, especially among the elderly. She called on the community to report such behaviour to Dementia SA, the South African Police Service or social workers.