ALZ
newz
Newsletter of the Alzheimer's
Disease Association (Singapore)
Issue No. 02/1
ADA Annual General Meeting The AGM of the Alzheimer's Disease Association of Singapore was held on
26th March 2002 at the Association's New Horizon Centre (Toa Payoh). Among
the items discussed was the performance of the Association over the past
year and the future directions the Association has to take. Of special
importance was, and is, the fact that in the near future funding
for our programmes will decrease due to a change in the government's funding
policy. This means that a large proportion of the Association's time, effort
and resources will be spent in raising monies to run our various programmes.
Given the state of the current national and global economy, this difficulty
will feature prominently on the agenda of the Association. Therefore, any
help that members of the Association can offer will be gladly accepted
especially with regard to volunteering and in generating promising ideas to
increase the funds of the Association. In line with this, and the Ministry of Health's decision to implement the
funding formula based on the Means Testing exercise implemented for
step-down care facilities with effect from 1 Jan 2002, it has meant that
applicants for the government's subsidy are required to go through a means
test to determine the subsidy rate. It has also meant that the Association
had to review its day care fees and to raise its full day care fees for
clients of its New Horizon Centres in Bukit Batok and Toa Payoh based on the
Means-Test formula. The MOH's 3-tier subsidy framework for step-down care facilities are as
follows based on $36 fee per day:
ADA New Management Committee & Work Groups
Other Association News
Tips for Caregivers:
Identifying Depression
Support Group for Caregivers
Medical News and Resources
Acknowledgements
| Subsidy level | Fees to be paid by client per day |
| 75% | $9 |
| 50% | $18 |
| 25% | $27 |
| No subsidy | $36 |
As the Association is aware that not all of its clients will be able to afford the revised fees implemented in April 2002 at its New Horizon Centres in Bukit Batok and Toa Payoh, it has instead absorbed the changes as much as possible. Thus, instead of charging $36 for full daycare for clients with no government subsidy, it is charging $28. This fee includes meals at the Centre (morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea), nursing care, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The previous full daycare fee was $25. Some clients who are in financial difficulties are given full fee waiver.
The second issue was the amendments to the Constitution, which was not tabled, as there was no quorum. One change proposed was to restrict the criteria for Life Memberships and increase the number of Ordinary Memberships. The rationale for this was to bring about greater participation of its members and to develop a more active membership.
A second amendment proposed was to enable proxy votes to be included in the quorum at future AGMs. This issue was raised as it was found that quorum was frequently not met, which limited the decisions that could be made at the AGM.
Other proposed amendments reflected the changes within the Association (expansion from 1 centre to 3) and the evolution of the medical and public mindset towards geriatric conditions (amending 'sufferers' to 'people with dementia').
ADA New Management Committee and Workgroups
The AGM also saw the election of a new Management Committee of the Association. Many were re-elected with new faces added. In line with the evolving needs and focus of the Association's tasks, more time will be invested in providing quality care to people with dementia, fund-raising and public education.
Below are the members of the new committee:
| President | Dr Ang Peng Chye |
| Vice-Chairperson | Dr Ng Li Ling |
| Secretary | Dr Chin Jing Jih |
| Treasurer | Mr Jason Foo |
| Officer-in-charge, Prof. Practice | Dr Ong Pui Sim |
| Officer-in-charge, Personnel | Ms Ting Mei Sing |
|
|
Dr Christopher Chen |
| Dr Christopher Gabriel | |
| Mr Lee Keok Kee | |
| Ms Joy Leong | |
| Ms Seng Boon Kheng | |
| Dr Suresh Sahadevan | |
| Ms Winnie Tang |
At the lst Management Committee meeting, the Committee's work was assigned to the following members:
| Carers' Support | Ms Seng Boon Kheng |
| Early Dementia Programme | Dr Chin Jing Jih and Dr Suresh Sahadevan |
| Fund-raising | Dr Ang Peng Chye |
| Membership/Publicity | Ms Joy Leong and Mr Lee Keok Kee |
| Newsletter | Mr Christopher Gabriel |
| Training | Dr Christopher Chen and Dr Ng Li Ling |
| Volunteers | Ms Winnie Tang |
| World Alzheimer's Day | Dr Ng Li Ling |
A New Centre for the Association
The Association was successful in sourcing for a 3rd Centre since the idea
to start a 3rd Centre was broached as early as 1995. We took the opportunity
in the restructure of the Home Nursing Foundation to take over one of its
Senior Citizens Health Care Centres. Our 3rd Centre, the New Horizon Centre
(Loke Yew-Tampines) was officially transferred to the Association on 1 Jan
2002. It is located at the 3rd level of the Tampines Polyclinic.
Referrals
Referrals to our New Horizon Centres located in Bukit Batok, Tampines and
Toa Payoh must be from a medical practitioner. Patients referred must be
diagnosed with dementia, with medical conditions that are stable and
non-infectious, and be ambulant or semi-ambulant.
The New Horizon Centre (Loke Yew-Tampines) also accepts referrals diagnosed
as suffering from strokes, Parkinson's Disease or fractures requiring
rehabilitation.
Fees are charged based on household income. Transport is available for
patients living within 5km of the Centre.
Memory Walk
In conjunction with World Alzheimer's Day 2002, the Association will
organise a walk to raise funds for the Association as well as to raise
awareness in the community of Alzheimer's disease.
Memory Walk is supported by the Singapore Sports Council, Central Singapore Community Development Council, Novartis, Tsao Foundation, Batey Ads and Rotary Club of Pandan Valley.
It will take place on Sunday, 22 September 2002, at Toa Payoh Stadium. The Guest-of-Honour for the event will be Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Health and Second Minister for Finance.
Funds raised will be used to help support our New Horizon Centres, help start an Early Dementia Programme, provide financial subsidies for the elderly at our New Horizon Centres and support the Carers Group and Volunteers programmes.
Help us to raise funds by taking pledge cards or giving a donation to the Association. Donations are tax-exempt.
All are welcome to join in the walk. Participants are to
arrive at Toa Payoh Stadium by 7.30 am. At the end of the walk, there will
be fringe activities such as games and entertainment. A Memory Walk T-shirt
and a goodie bag will be given to participants.
Public Forum
Also in conjunction with World Alzheimer's Day 2002, it is jointly organised by Tsao Foundation and the Association. The theme of the Forum is 'Forgetfulness, old age or disease?'
The main speaker will be Dr Chin Jing Jih, consultant geriatrician, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Honorary Secretary, Alzheimer's Disease Association. There will be a panel for discussion and to answer questions from the floor.
Date:
Saturday, 21 September 2002
Venue: YWCA Fort Canning Lodge
Level 2, Ballroom
Time: 2 pm (registration).
Talk starts at 2.30 pm
Registration fee $10 per person. Refreshments will be
provided.
Limited seats available. Call Tsao Foundation at Tel: 6433 2740 (Jane) to
register for the talk.
ADA's Website
Check out the Association's website at www.alzheimers.org.sg.
The website was created by students from
and web hosting
is sponsored by
Tips for Caregivers: Identifying Depression
When we speak of dementia, whether from Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or arising from strokes, the phrase "cognitive deficits" would almost always be raised.
Cognitive deficits refer to:
 | Difficulties or disturbances in memory (problems in recalling old information or learning new information) |
| Perception (difficulties in discriminating what is seen or heard) |
| Language (difficulties in expressing oneself or understanding what was said) |
| Motor speed and higher-order functions. The latter refers to poor ability to plan and organise, motivation to act and staying on task, among others. |
In addition, a person with Alzheimer's dementia may also suffer mental health problems like depression and anxiety.
Their symptoms include:
| Lack of motivation to do anything |
| Depressed mood |
| Feeling tearful |
| Decreased interest or pleasure in activities that they used to enjoy |
| Weight changes |
| Difficulties in sleeping |
| Fatigue |
| Feelings of worthlessness and decreased ability to concentrate |
Caregivers are advised to be on the alert for these signs, and if the signs are present over a lengthy period of time, they should inform the patient's doctor.
You can take steps to avoid it by ensuring that the patient has access to a stimulating environment or is engaged in activities that give a sense of productivity.
One of the prominent signs is apathy, that is, the patient does not want to do anything and just wants to lie in bed all day. Ensure that this does not happen by developing a routine for the patient, with the input of the patient. Thus, the patient knows that he/she has tasks to carry out in the course of the day. These can include household tasks as well as exercises, etc. Also try to accommodate 'outside-house' activities if possible.
Social stimulation is particularly important, even if it
is only half an hour a day talking with neighbours. There is nothing like a
good 'discussion' between people to keep a mind working!
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The Alzheimer's Disease Association continues to run its monthly Saturday Support Group for Carers' meetings (except in June and December) for caregivers looking after people with dementia. Each session is conducted in English with a talk on a dementia-related topic followed by a discussion and sharing session. Light refreshments will be provided.
The following are the sessions for August to November
2002:
|
Date |
Title of Talk |
Speaker |
| 17.08.2002 | Activities in Dementia |
Charmaine Magnus Occupational Therapist Tan Tock Seng Hospital |
| 14.09.2002 | Decision Making in Dementia | Dr. Chin Jing
Jih Geriatrician Tan Tock Seng Hospital |
| 12.10.2002 | Caring for a Loved One/Video | Philomena A Nurse Clinician Tan Tock Seng Hospital |
| 9.11.2002 | Be a Learned Caregiver |
Mrs Lee Lay Beng Medical Social Worker Tan Tock Seng Hospital |
Venue : New Horizon Centre (Toa Payoh)
Blk 157,
Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1195
Time : 3 pm to 5.15 pm. Carers are to be kindly seated by 2.45 pm
Call tel : 6353 8734 to register. No payment is required.
One of the characteristic features of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of amyloid deposits outside of the cell or neuron. Amyloids refer to a certain type of proteins that are produced by cells. Normally, these proteins would be soluble but in Alzheimer's disease as well as in certain other disorders, the protein deposits fold into insoluble deposits. These insoluble aggregates of deposits lead to tissue damage.
Approaches in research in resolving these disorders include vaccination, which has not shown much promise in human clinical trials to date, and disrupting the aggregation of amyloid deposits. The latter direction appears to be the focus of current research. One such being carried out in UK is examining the efficacy of targeting and removing one of the agents that binds amyloid deposits, thus enabling the aggregation to be destroyed by normal or aided tissue function.
See Nature 16 May 2002 issue
(pp. 231 - 233 and pp. 254 - 259) for the articles.
Other articles of interest
The Alzheimer's Disease Association would like to thank the following for their generous donations received by the Association for the period Jan 2002 to June 2002:
Caltex Services Pte Ltd
City Developments Ltd
Chu Tee Chui
Joan D'Cotta
Le Champ (SEA) Pte Ltd
Lee Chee Hong
Lee Foundation
Sandra Kage Patrick
Sia Bee Leng
Tham Tuck Wah
Louise Vanderput
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