Forget Us Not

According to a study by the Institute of Mental Health, one in 10 seniors in their 60s or older – or potentially 78,000 people as of 2017 – are living with dementia in Singapore. Forget Us Not seeks to build dementia-friendly communities that understand, embrace and support people with dementia and their carers. What started as a ground-up movement in Yishun in 2016 with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital has spread to other parts of Singapore, including Bishan East Thomson. More recently, the Alzheimer’s Disease Association has come on board as a strategic partner. The campaign also holds regular educational talks and training sessions for members of the public and staff of organisations dealing with seniors to spot symptoms, debunk myths, reduce stigma and offer practical assistance to persons with dementia, such as when they get lost. In less than two years, we have trained close to 20,000 people, including frontline staff from close to 90 organisations, including transport companies, banks, supermarkets, voluntary welfare groups and religious institutions.