Persons with dementia cannot advocate for themselves. The human race is biologically wired to care for helpless babies to ensure their survival. The human race lacks the same genetic and societal motivation to care for helpless adults, especially women. It is often said that the true measure of any society is how it treats all its most vulnerable members.

There are over 100 different types of Dementia,of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most commonly known form. South Africa has unfortunately not clearly identified Dementia as either a mental health disorder or a neurological disorder and it is classed in the two categories causing confusion and resulting in few resources being allocated to this disease.

Of particular concern, is the lack of resources allocated to the elderly as dementia is perceived to be a disease of the elderly. AIDS Dementia complex is rapidly increasing in the country and responsible for the growing number of persons with early onset dementia in their 40’s. 1 in 3 people with HIV/AIDS will develop AIDS Dementia Complex.

The Speaking Books will enhance our existing projects in that we will be able to reach a far wider audience. Once we start producing the books in different languages (Xhosa, Zulu and Sesotho being the first three languages it will be produced in) as funding becomes available we will be able to produce it in more languages for South Africa and eventually to other neighbouring countries as well as abroad.

Solution

Our Executive Director had an "Aha!!" moment when she first saw the Speaking Books which SADAG produced. It was the perfect solution of how to reach some of the communities we serve who can not read. Our Executive Director met with SADAG to look at the possibility of producing a Speaking Book "What is dementia". SADAG will work hand in glove with Dementia SA, once we have obtained the required funding, to produce the first batch of Xhosa Speaking Books "What is dementia". We are all looking forward to the day when Dementia SA will be able to produce our first 5000 "What is dementia" Speaking Books to our vulnerable communities who can not read.