Family support key to dementia care
By Lilian U. Okoro
A Consultant Family Physician, Dr Matthias Kwenin, has identified family support, love and care as key to effective dementia management.
Kwenin, also Medical Director of Right Results Diagnostic Centre, stated this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
He emphasised the family’s central role in providing consistent and effective care for people living with dementia.
According to him, the family is often the first point of contact and must ensure support, communication, respect, love and understanding are always present.
He noted that professional caregivers must show deep compassion, mutual love, and commitment in their work with dementia patients.
Kwenin said families must create a peaceful and loving environment to help reduce the negative effects dementia can have on relationships and home life.
He described the family as society’s foundation, stressing that love, support and care are vital in preventing and managing dementia effectively in Nigeria.
Kwenin explained that dementia causes emotional and physical harm to the patient and often disrupts the harmony and stability within the family.
“To improve dementia care, families must adopt practices rooted in love, compassion and understanding, fostering a positive environment for those affected.
“Families and caregivers must protect, inspire and nurture dementia patients to give them a chance to survive and manage their condition.
“Sometimes, dementia patients display frustrating behaviour, but it’s vital that families prioritise supportive care above all else,” Kwenin said.
In her contribution, Inclusion Advocate, Ms Busola Shogbamimu, urged public awareness and education for families, caregivers, law enforcement and wider society on dementia care.
Shogbamimu, Executive Director of MASC Care Home, lamented that many families are failing to play their necessary roles in supporting dementia patients.
She said cultural beliefs remain a significant barrier, as many still associate dementia with witchcraft, spiritual attacks or incantations.
Shogbamimu described dementia as a brain disorder that alters a person’s behaviour, social interaction and relationship with others.
“Dementia is a progressive disease that worsens over time. There’s no cure, but early intervention can slow its progression,” she explained.
She stressed the need for education across families, law enforcement, public and private sectors to improve dementia care nationwide.
“Beating elderly people or calling them witches due to dementia symptoms is wrong and harmful.
“Unusual behaviour, confusion or talking to oneself among the elderly may be signs they need care, not condemnation,” she added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
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