Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Memory Matters, Dignity Matters
She wakes to the sunlight, confused by the day and place. Her family watches silently, unsure how to help. Her memory flickers like a candle in the wind — some days bright, some almost gone. This is the reality for thousands of South Africans living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, which impacts memory, identity, and dignity.
As we move through October, Mental Health Awareness Month, SAMDP continues to place Alzheimer’s at the centre of our focus, following up from World Alzheimer’s Day (21 September) and last week’s exploration of early warning signs. This week, we spotlight real lives, practical solutions, and systemic action.
Patient Stories: Voices Behind the Disease
Take Thandi, a retired teacher from Gauteng. She began forgetting simple tasks, misplacing her keys, repeating questions, but no one recognised the signs of Alzheimer’s. Her family grew frustrated, her confidence diminished. Once she consulted one of the doctors affiliated to the SAMDP, she received early interventions, memory exercises, and family counselling. Today, with structured support, Thandi maintains independence in daily life and enjoys social interactions safely.
Stories like Thandi’s remind us that Alzheimer’s is not just a medical condition — it is deeply human, affecting emotions, relationships, and dignity.
Practical Interventions and Support
SAMDP members are at the forefront of action, providing guidance to patients, families, and communities:
- Early Detection & Screening: Using memory tests, cognitive assessments, and structured clinical observations to detect Alzheimer’s early.
- Care Planning: Developing individualised care routines that respect autonomy while ensuring safety.
- Cognitive & Lifestyle Interventions: Memory exercises, structured activities, nutrition guidance, and physical activity to slow cognitive decline.
- Family & Caregiver Support: Providing education, counselling, and practical strategies for daily care challenges.
- Community Engagement: Promoting Alzheimer’s awareness through talks, workshops, and partnerships to reduce stigma.
These interventions show that Alzheimer’s care is not passive, it is proactive, compassionate, and empowering.
SAMDP’s Commitment: From Awareness to Action
At SAMDP, we bridge the gap between knowledge and practice:
- Members as Agents of Change: Doctors across South Africa are trained to recognise Alzheimer’s early and provide compassionate care.
- System-Wide Advocacy: Pushing for integration of Alzheimer’s and geriatric mental health into the National Health Insurance framework.
- Amplifying Caregiver Voices: Recognising that families and healthcare providers are the backbone of elder care, often unacknowledged.
- Raising Public Awareness: Through campaigns, storytelling, and educational resources to create supportive communities for older persons.
Together, these steps ensure that older South Africans living with Alzheimer’s are visible, supported, and treated with dignity.
Looking ahead this October
This blog is our third part of our October journey. As the month unfolds, the following topics will be tackled:
- Week 1: Mind, Memory & Dignity: Reclaiming the Place of Older Persons in Our Society
- Week 2: Mental Health in Older Persons, breaking down stigma and sharing practical guidance for families and communities.
- Week 3: Spotlight on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, sharing stories, resources, and solutions for early detection and compassionate care.
- Week 4: Caregivers and Rights, shining a light on the silent struggles of those who carry the weight of care, and advocating for stronger systemic support.
Together with our members, partners, and communities, SAMDP commits not only to speaking out, but to doing the work that ensures every older person in South Africa can live with dignity, mind, memory, and health. Because to honour our elders is to honour ourselves.
