Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim (standing, in silver) graced the opening of the BebeLEC Day Care Centre for dementia patients at Jalan Lang, Padang Tembak here.- Bernama
IPOH: Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim on Wednesday (Sept 21) graced the opening of the BebeLEC Day Care Centre for dementia patients at Jalan Lang, Padang Tembak here.
The daycare centre which has been operating since July last year has a total of 20 dementia patients aged between 60 and 93 years old cared for by volunteers from 8am to 5pm.
Tuanku Zara also launched a guidebook on dementia titled ‘Adakah Sifat Pelupa Sesuatu Yang Normal?’ (Is Forgetfulness Normal?)
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, wife to Perak Menteri Besar Datin Seri Aezer Zubin and Perak Dementia Society chairman Prof Dr Esther Ebenezer.
Meanwhile, Esther told reporters that the number of Alzheimer's patients in Malaysia may reach 260,000 people by 2030.
She said 126,000 dementia patients were recorded in 2020, adding that the disease can affect people as young as 50 years old.
Individuals may develop early-onset Alzheimer’s disease such as forgetting to pay bills, and appointments or doing the same thing over and over, she said, adding that those in the late stage will need the help of others in managing their daily basic care.
"It is important for those with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease to seek accurate diagnosis to get the necessary treatment to deal with the symptoms and maintain quality of life," she said.
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease or the decline of brain nerve cells that occurs gradually and progressively and is the main cause of dementia.- Bernama
