Singaporean Matters: Dementia

Caring for our elderly

In 2030, 1 in 4 Singaporeans will be above the age of 60. Singapore has one of the most rapidly aging populations in the world.

According to research, the incidence of Alzheimer's dementia increases dramatically with age: 3% of people aged 65-74, 17% of people aged 75-84 and 32% of people aged 85 or older have dementia. With an average life expectancy of 85 in Singapore, 52% of our elderly, or an estimated 13% of Singaporeans, will have dementia.

Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce

While there is currently no cure for dementia, studies have shown that besides staying physically active, doing the following can delay its onset:

• staying mentally active by learning new hobbies, reading, or doing Sudoku
• staying socially involved by participating in community activities, church, or support groups

I am sharing this to raise awareness of this mega-trend (that will likely impact every Singapore family), in the hopes that we will make lifestyle changes, or encourage our loved ones to. Caring for someone with dementia is not easy as takes time and resources. Prevention is critical, but if we can’t prevent it, the next best option is to delay its onset.