LETTERS: Malaysia is heading towards becoming an aged nation. By 2030, senior citizens may comprise 15 per cent of the population.
Ageing is a cause to celebrate because it reflects the success of public health and healthcare initiatives, but it also comes with challenges.
For instance, a growing number of senior citizens will lead to a higher numbers of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke and cancer.
Another issue related to ageing is cognitive decline, which can manifest as dementia.
Dementia can be defined as an impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with activities. A local survey showed that 8.5 per cent of older adults suffer from dementia.
Other studies indicate this figure will continue to rise. A study in the United States found that dementia is one of the most expensive health issues, costing US$305 billion in 2020.
Older adults with dementia are not merely forgetful, they can also become verbally and physically aggressive to others.
Family members often start noticing strange changes like the person acting hostile or highly irritable, or that he drives to a place and forgets his way home, or wanders off.
These new behaviours will throw family members and caregivers into confusion and anxiety.
The impact of dementia can be devastating. Their primary caregivers are among the most affected. Caregivers can be the spouse, or adult child, or son- or daughter-in-law, or a close relative.
Some experts refer to dementia caregivers as hidden patients or invisible patients because doctors tend to give more attention to patients while overlooking caregivers' needs and struggles.
Support for elders living with dementia must come hand in hand with support for their caregivers because they play a major role in determining the health outcome of elders under their care.
If caregivers are overwhelmed or negatively affected by their duties, it is unlikely that older adults can comply with instructions, follow-ups or medications given by healthcare providers.
Similarly, the condition of caregivers will determine the older adults' social and living environment and quality of life.
Caregivers' needs not only include information or medical advice, but also include emotional support, motivation and the flexibility to make life adjustments, such as changing jobs, rearranging routines and negotiations with other family members.
Such adjustments are not easy and can have consequences.
If caregivers do not get support from other loved ones, the caregiving experience can be lonely and stressful, putting caregivers and older adults at risk of social isolation, which in turn, becomes a risk factor for abuse.
The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the usage of digital technology, including treatment-seeking and accessing healthcare.
Caregivers of older adults too should reap the benefits of this advancement.
We need to talk about dementia more often and to think of ways to enable a more pleasant caregiving experience among those who are making this huge sacrifice.
RAUDAH MOHD YUNUS
NURUL SYAIREEN A. RASHID
CHEN XIN WEE
Department of Public Health Medicine,
Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi Mara
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times