In an effort to shine a spotlight on dementia care within the community, Peacehaven is organising a carnival supported by Fengshan Community Club on 14th October 2023. It will be an action-packed and engaging intergenerational event, taking place between 9am – 3pm and will be graced by Ms Cheryl Chan, Adviser to East Coast GRC Grassroots Organisations, Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC and Vice Chairman of East Coast Town Council.
In line with the Ministry of Health’s 2023 Action Plan For Successful Ageing, this carnival aims to raise awareness for dementia care in the community and the available support for caregivers. With the focus on care at home with community support, there will be caregiver wellness talks, with topics that include practising mindfulness, which is acknowledging and being aware of one’s feelings and physical conditions; as well as self-care techniques to cope with stress.
With the focus on care at home with community support, there will be caregiver wellness talks, with topics that include practising mindfulness, which is acknowledging and being aware of one’s feelings and physical conditions; as well as self-care techniques to cope with stress.
Making an appearance at the event will be Dexie, an android that is pre-programmed with exciting and interactive games and having the capability of holding one-on-one conversations with our nursing home residents. Dexie is the first step in enabling more touchpoints through the use of technology, resulting in increased trust.
We are thrilled to announce that Dexie will be piloting and launching its operations within the Fengshan community in collaboration with Fengshan Grassroots Organisation. This exciting collaboration promises numerous benefits to the community, including:
- Enhanced Social Connection: Dexie’s presence will provide companionship and social interaction for residents, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- Increased Dementia Awareness: Through Dexie’s interactions, we aim to raise awareness about dementia, its challenges, and the importance of fostering a dementia-friendly community.
Visitors can also look forward to a pop-up café that is inspired by Japan’s Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, where patrons are served by persons living with dementia. The pop-up café aims to foster greater understanding and exposure to persons living with dementia through experiential engagement and interaction. This helps cultivate a spirit of tolerance, empathy, and acceptance towards persons living with dementia. In turn, the persons living with dementia are empowered to harness their remaining abilities, thereby boosting their confidence and enhancing the meaning and purpose of their lives.
“The general public at large does not have enough understanding about dementia. Lack of knowledge of available support is the reason that many caregivers are facing challenges in coping with the care needs of their loved ones, and this results in burnout and caregiver stress,” says Mdm Low Mui Lang, Executive Director of The Salvation Army Peacehaven.
Mdm Low continues by saying, “We hope that this carnival will raise awareness to support persons living with dementia and their caregivers. We believe that the home environment is the best and with community support for the caregivers, quality care within their own homes is definitely possible. It is important to promote active ageing for all in order to achieve physical, mental and psycho-social wellbeing, and to stave off the development of dementia. 84% of residents are able to be purposefully engaged after our support in the residential homes, and 80% of our residents have been reported to have improved or maintained their well-being.”
All are welcome to join us in this carnival on 14th October 2023 at Fengshan Community Club from 9am to 3pm. Various booths will be set up by entities such as Changi General Hospital and Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). Catering for the young ones at the event with their families are carnival games and a bouncy castle.