AAD works to advocate for those living with dementia in Bermuda; increase general public awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias; and forge links between the public, medical community, care homes, and government.
Action on Alzheimer’s & Dementia was founded as a registered charity in 2012 (#929) by our President Elizabeth Stewart whose mother lived with Alzheimer’s disease from 2004-2012 and had been diagnosed at the age of 67. At that time, there was little information available in the community and very little support for the person with dementia and their family after a diagnosis. Elizabeth’s goal was to make sure that no other family living with Alzheimer’s disease would have to go through the journey alone and AAD was created to be that resource for families in their time of need.
At first glance the numbers can feel overwhelming when discussing the impact of dementia on our small island. It is estimated that there are up to 3,000 people currently living with a form of dementia in Bermuda. It is expected that seniors will account for 25% of Bermuda’s population by 2026. We estimate that 80% of dementia care is undertaken by family members who report high levels of caregiver stress and burnout. We also estimate that 75% of those living with dementia are uninsured, or underinsured, and are unable to afford essential dementia care and support services. With the global number of people living with dementia set to triple by 2050 we know that dementia is a health care crisis that is not going away.
We are proud to work in practical ways to help those with dementia by:
- providing meaningful and engaging activities on a daily basis which include art, music therapy, chair exercises and chair yoga
- hosting monthly support-group meetings for care partners
- funding occupational therapy services, including in home assessments through Marie Fay of Northstar Dementia
- funding Cognitive Stimulation Therapy through Marie Fay of Northstar Dementia
AAD has also worked with professional caregivers and dementia-care settings to provide them with additional training and education to elevate the level of care they provide on a daily basis. AAD through the Dementia Training Company UK, has trained and educated more than 250 individuals including formal and informal caregivers, first response organizations (Police & Fire) and staff of King Edward Hospital.
