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HE HOME CARE PROJECT - An action Research project to help those suffering from dementia and their families. This New Year the Dementia Society of Goa will be launching a research based project to help those afflicted by Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias and their families. The Project, which is supported by a grant form the World Health Organization, will start on a pilot basis in Bardez and Tiswadi Talukas. Service development for older people with dementia in India needs to take account of the fact that dementia tends to be a hidden problem. Research has proved that nearly 3-5% of the people above the age of 60 years and as much as 20% above the age of 80 years could be suffering from dementia. However, dementia is generally perceived to be part of normal ageing, and not a health condition, and families rarely present to health services, who are ignorant of most cases in their community. Health services are often ill-equipped to meet the needs of older persons. Health care is often clinic-based; the older person must attend the clinic or hospital, which could involve a long journey and waiting time. The assessment and treatment that they receive is orientated towards acute rather than chronic conditions. Thus, home-based interventions provide a practical alternative to clinic-based interventions for persons affected by dementia. The intervention is designed to provide family caregivers with information about dementia syndrome, assistance in setting up local support groups with other caregivers, and training in strategies to better manage common behavioural problems in the home setting. This package would form the basis of the community intervention to be delivered in the proposed project. Some patients with dementia suffer from behavioural or psychiatric problems which may improve considerably with the judicious use of psychotropic medication. The project Director is Dr. Vikram Patel, Psychiatrist. The medical experts for the project are Dr. C.J. Vas, Consultant Neurologist, GMC and Dr. Rajesh Dhume, Consultant Psychiatrist. The project is coordinated by Dr. Amit Dias, Dept. of Preventive and Social Medicine, GMC. There will be a training workshop from the 20th - 23rd of January in Goa Medical College for community nurses who would be interested in being associated with this project. Those interested are requested to contact the Secretary of the Dementia Society of Goa. The Society also invites the people in Bardez and Tiswadi to identify cases of Dementia and encourage them to enroll for the project. For further information contact : Dr. Amit Dias, Honorary Secretary, The Dementia Society of Goa, Mainawaddo, Aldona, Bardez, Goa. Email : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 2414027( Dr. Amit Dias) or 2453552( Mrs. Jean Dsouza). Dr. Amit Dias, Hon. Secretary, The Dementia Society of Goa. -------------------------------------------------------
