The Dementia Society Perak (DSP), a non-governmental organisation which provides daycare services to those afflicted with dementia, held a ground-breaking ceremony for their intended centre on Tuesday, June 8.
The site is at Jalan Lang, off Jalan Padang Tembak in Ipoh. The half-acre land was purchased and donated to the society by well-wishers.
Its chairman, Professor Dr Esther Ebenezer, who is also a Consultant Psychiatrist and Old Age Psychiatrist said the two-storey building will be equipped with research labs, conference rooms and daycare rooms.
“The present daycare centre at Jalan Foo Choong Nyit can only accommodate about 25 people and it’s very congested.
“The new centre can take up to 50 patients, and it’s large enough for patients to do their daily activities,” she told Ipoh Echo.
At the current centre patients are placed in one room. The new building, said Esther, will allow us to separate them according to the severity of the disease – mild and moderate dementia.
“Moderate dementia patients can’t do what the mild patients are capable of. We’ve to separate them and apportion activities for both,” Esther added. The new centre is estimated to cost RM2.8 million. It’ll be completed in mid-2018.
“Our daycare is totally different from nursing care. It’s advisable to send dementia patients to the dementia daycare rather than to nursing home.
“If they’re sent to nursing home, they’ll have no physical interaction, as they’ll be confined to their rooms and beds without any activities. At dementia daycare centre we’ll organise activities to keep them occupied and active before they return home.
“We charge a nominal fee of RM30 per day,” said Esther.
The DSP was established in 2010. In 2011, the society started its daycare service with the aim of providing patients a stimulating and conducive environment that is beneficial to them.
Nabilah Hamudin
