Charity warns of dementia time bomb
The number of Bermudians living with dementia is set to skyrocket by 200 per cent in the next 25 years, with as many as one in seven people developing the condition by 2050, it has been claimed.
One island charity is now calling on the Government to develop a national plan to address the ticking time bomb of dementia — an umbrella term used to describe a series of progressive brain disorders, with Alzheimer's being the most common.
Action on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, in partnership with Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), is running a joint campaign to raise awareness about the condition and push for a unified strategy that will benefit those living with dementia as well as their carers.
According to ADI, the number of dementia cases globally is set to triple in the next 25 years. Estimates suggest that as many as 9,000 Bermuda residents — one out of every seven people — will be living with the disease by 2050.
But according to the charity, up to 40 per cent of those cases could be delayed or even avoided through risk reduction.
The projected sharp upward curve in cases has been propelled by Bermuda’s increasingly ageing population. Forecasts predict that one quarter of the island’s population will be over the age of 65 in the next few years.
Erica Fulton, the executive director of AAD, said: “We have been heartened by recent efforts made by the Government’s Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, which is leading efforts relating to the care and support of individuals and families navigating a dementia diagnosis in our community.
“However, we remain deeply concerned that dementia is far too often referred to as a natural part of ageing.
“Although rare, we know that individuals as young as in their 40s can develop the condition. We must not confuse age-associated memory impairment with the debilitating impact of a progressive brain disease like Alzheimer's.
“What role will the Ministry of Health play? We would like to know how dementia will fit in the Universal Health Care Plan.
“We are advocating that dementia be given the adequate resources and support that other non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, receive.
“While tackling dementia requires a joint and concerted effort by all community stakeholders, there is certainly a crucial role that the Ministry of Health can play in driving informed and effective policy to create a better framework of support and care. A national dementia plan would provide this."
In September 2023, the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, along with the Bermuda Health Council announced the development of a National Seniors Strategy.
It was emphasised that the strategy would include a plan for dementia and that it would take roughly six months to deliver.
Six months on, that plan has not been unveiled.
Paola Barbarino, the chief executive officer of ADI, said dementia risk reduction should be designed through “a life-course approach”, which targets both older and younger populations, focusing on risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and infrequent social contact.
She said: “A national dementia plan is a vital step in addressing risk factors of dementia. If there’s a chance we could prevent or delay 40 per cent of dementia cases, we should act with utmost urgency.”
One person who knows all too well the need for a national co-ordinated programme for people living with dementia is nurse and caregiver Ria Outerbridge.
Ms Outerbridge is employed by NorthStar Dementia, a healthcare organisation providing comprehensive care and support for people living with dementia as well as their carers.
But when not at work, Ms Outerbridge has another duty to carry out — taking care of her elderly mother.
She said: “I see the need for further support from two sides, one in my role as a dementia nurse, and the other in my role as the daughter of someone living with dementia.”
Ms Outerbridge’s mother was diagnosed with dementia more than ten years ago. She said that while her nursing education assisted her in understanding her mother’s behaviour as she passed through the various stages of dementia, what she was not prepared for was the intricacies of navigating fragmented dementia support and resources.
She said: “I am thankful to organisations such as Action on Alzheimer’s and NorthStar Dementia who are a tremendous support to my family.
“However, more needs to be done on a national level to support individuals and their families who are living with a dementia diagnosis.
“We need a national dementia plan that prioritises public education for the whole process, from risk reduction to treatment and caregiver aid.”
According to World Health Organisation statistics, dementia is the seventh leading cause of death globally and is a particularly widespread problem in Caribbean countries, where the disease is compounded by risk factors such as poor cardiovascular health, diabetes, family history, and older age are prominent in the region.
But AAD is calling for further, more focused research to drill down on the real impact of dementia on the island, rather than base policy on estimated figures for the whole region.
The charity also believes that education on dementia risk reduction is imperative to reduce stigma and caregiver burden.
The organisation has also called on the Government to follow World Health Organisation guidelines to tackle the issue.
Ms Fulton said: ““Part of this campaign is to remind Government of its commitment made in 2017 when it adopted the WHO's Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia. We urge the Government to ensure that the seven action points of the global action plan used to form the basis of any future national health strategy.”
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