South Asian Community Dementia Awareness and Consultation seminar

South Asian Community Dementia Awareness and Consultation seminar

BME Health & Wellbeing held a South Asian Community Awareness and Consultation Event at Deeplish Community centre on Monday.

Over 120 local community members, carers, health and social and community workers, healthcare professionals and clinicians attended.

Shahid Mohammed, founder of BME Health & Wellbeing and organiser of the seminar, welcomed everyone and explained the purpose of the event was to raise awareness of dementia and to hear about the perceptions of dementia from the local south Asian community. He introduced Akhlak Rauf from the award winning ‘Meri Yaadain’ team at Bradford Council who chaired the seminar.

Mr Mohammed siad: "Dementia and its symptoms are often misunderstand within the South Asian community as there is no word for dementia in many south Asian languages and people with dementia or any other mental health problems are referred to as ‘Pagal’ (crazy/mad), or it's assumed it's part of the aging process and therefore there is still a huge stigma attached to condition.

“I wanted this seminar to be an opportunity to really consult with and listen to the community on what they think dementia is and how prevalent they think it is.

"We had four themed table discussions with community members and facilitated by bi-lingual facilitators. The professional speakers listened and then responded to the feedback. It was important for me that the speakers not to come with pre-prepared presentations or speeches, it had to be natural and real and it was.

"I am really pleased that all the professionals that attended, including management from the Alzheimer’s Society and Stroke Association who have committed to working with us to raise particular awareness of TIA’s (mini-strokes), vascular diseases and its correlation to the South Asian community as they are more prone to developing vascular dementia. I feel that this issue has never received the publicity or awareness that is needed within the South Asian community." 

Sue Clarke, from the Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘”Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that can include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These symptoms occur when the brain is damaged by certain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. It’s not a new illness but the government has backed dementia to raise awareness and to understand background changes and to create dementia friendly societies. You can also help yourself by getting involved in local community projects, and engaged in local activities such as exercise class, reading club and other social activities at local community centres.”

Dr Shanu Datta, Consultant Psychiatrist for Older People at the Memory Clinic in Rochdale, said: “It’s important that we change our attitude and behaviours toward dementia as it’s a fact and not a matter of shame that someone suffer from dementia.

“We need to spread this message across cultures and communities and this was the focus of the event.

"Dementia does not discriminate and we must learn more about it. I was really pleased to hear from the discussions that many local community members already know much more about dementia than previously thought.”

Sohail Ahmad, Manager at Deeplish Community Centre, said: “I am pleased that people always show great interest in health and well being activities and that the panel gave ample time to answer questions from audiences in detail.”