President George Vella urged the authorities to continue to raise awareness about dementia, so that society learns to better recognise and understand this degenerative condition that we cannot ignore.
During the National Dementia Awards organised by the Dementia Care Directorate and Active Ageing and Community Care, the President encouraged everyone to work together in order to improve inclusiveness and accessibility in the community for persons with dementia.
While congratulating the four winners and all nominees, the President showed great appreciation for the dedication and sacrifices made by people working in every sector of dementia care.
“Dementia is a collection of symptoms caused by damage affecting the brain. It can happen to anyone, but the risk increases with age and therefore the largest number of cases is predominantly among the elderly,” said the President of Malta while mentioning that in the last ten years, the number of persons with dementia in Malta has more than doubled because more elderly people are living longer.
The President explained that dementia has negative effects on the quality of life of the individuals directly affected by this condition and on family members and caregivers.
“Caring for a person with dementia is quite a challenge. Relatives caring for a person with dementia experience, themselves, physical and emotional stress, anxiety, and other heavy burdens. It is therefore important to continue investing in resources to be able to offer dignified care to persons with dementia,” stated the President of Malta.
“A compassionate society that helps those in need should work so that people affected by any disease can live, as much as possible, a good quality life, and above all with dignity,” said Dr Vella while referring to prevention. In this context, the President mentioned the increase in physical activity, the decrease in obesity, the promotion of a balanced and healthy diet, and quitting smoking and alcohol consumption. He explained that these are feasible measures that allow us to reduce the risk of developing dementia.
The Minister for Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, expressed his concern about the incidence of dementia, which is increasing in our country and many other countries. He said that this condition, although it has very little effects in its early stage, has tragic effects when it enters its severe and advanced phase.
“This evening, as we are approaching the cherished holiday of Christmas, we should recognise the everyday commitment, dedication, professionalism and compassion of the relatives and employees working in this sector. The best gift that persons with dementia can receive is the determined commitment of governments united with universities and large corporations to fully invest in research to find a cure for this condition,” concluded Minister Abela.
The winners are:
Award for best informal carer – Ms Roslynn Vella
Award for best professional or team in the dementia field – Mr Carmel Damato
Award for exceptional contribution to dementia – Dr Anthony Scerri
Special recognition – Ms Rita Vella
