Dementia SA | Managing Alzheimer's and dementia care in South Africa

Every three seconds, someone in the world develops dementia but most people with dementia do not receive a diagnosis or support Click To Tweet
In 2018, dementia will become a trillion dollar disease Click To Tweet
Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) recommends spending at least 1% of the global cost of dementia on public funding for research to find solutions Click To Tweet
Only 29 governments out of the 194 WHO member states have developed a plan on dementia Click To Tweet
Dementia affects 50 million people worldwide – a number that will almost triple by 2050 Click To Tweet
More than half of all people with dementia live in low and middle income countries, where as few as 10% of individuals receive a diagnosis Click To Tweet

About Dementia SA

Dementia SA is a South African Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) that assists people who have limited access to private health care, to live with dementia or care for those with dementia.

Dementia SA was founded by Karen Borochowitz, along with a group of professionals and community workers, in 2005. Karen’s first-hand experience of dementia, through her mother’s illness, lead her to create an organisation that assists people who do not have the benefit of private dementia care.

Dementia SA provides a 24 hour helpline; raises awareness nationally and is actively involved in research and ongoing advocacy. The organisation advises residential care facilities – training nurses, community health workers and social workers as well as legal and financial professionals, community workers and occasionally the police and magistrates.

Training and support

Dementia SA offers a course which aims to provide carers and learners with a general understanding of dementia and how to identify the signs and symptoms of dementia, that are not part of the ‘normal’ ageing process.

Participants will learn how to relate and care for someone with dementia, using the principles of person-centered care. The role of the family and the use of available resources must also be understood. Valuing diversity forms an integral part of the course in terms of accepting people’s individuality and using it to enhance care.

You can join Dementia SA at a support group where we discuss the challenges of dementia, provide counseling and support. If we don’t have a support group in your area, please browse our Advice sheets and resouces for more information.

You can help

Dementia SA relies on the support of individuals, members, the communities it serves and the business sector in order to render the essential services it provides. Every donation helps to fund our projects.

Donate via Snapscan

Donate with PayPal

Donate by EFT / Bank transfer

First National Bank
Branch: 255 655 (Adderley Street)
Account: 621 037 511 96
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ20140962103751196
Please email proof of payment to accounts@dementiasa.org

Dementia advice sheets and resources

English

10 Early Warning Signs
Am I at the risk of developing Alzheimers disease
Activities at home
Aggressive behaviour
Agitation
Aricept Exelon and Reminyl
Basic Principles For understanding and caring for a person with Alzheimer’s
Carers looking after yourselves
Communication
Dental care and dementia
Depression
Dementia and Intellectual Disabilities
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Dressing
Driving and dementia
Diagnosis and assessment
Eating
Enhancing life for the Older Adult with AD and other dementias
Explaining to children
Early stages of Alzheimers
Facts about Memantime
Feelings of guilt
Genes and Alzheimer’s disease
Going on Holiday
Grief and bereavement
Guidelines for choosing a long-term care facility
Hallucinations and delusions
Holidays
How the GP can help
How to include people with dementia
Incontinence
Information for family and friends
Living alone
Living with dementia
Maintaining skills
Memory loss in dementia
MMSE – Mini mental state examination
Moving and handling
Patients perspective
Police Advice for missing person
Pressure sores
Risk Factors for Dementia
Rarer causes of dementia
Safety in the home
Sexual difficulties
Stages of Caregivers
Staying healthy
Stimulation for Alzheimer’s sufferers
Symptoms of Parkinson
Strategies for day to day living
10 Signs of caregiver stress
The Brain and Behaviour
The Carer’s Journey
The experiences of a caregiver
The progression of dementia
The later stages of dementia
Understanding and Respecting the person with dementia
Unpredictable situations
Unusual behaviour
Walking about or wandering
Washing and bathing
What is aids related cognitive impairment
What is Alzheimer’s disease
What is dementia
What is frontal-temporal dementia
What is Vascular Dementia
What is Kreutzfeldt Jaco disease
What is Korsakoffs Syndrome
Words of advice from individuals with Alzheimer’s disease
Younger people with dementia

Xhosa

10 Early Warning Signs
Aggressive behaviour
Basic Principles For understanding and caring for a person with Alzheimer’s
Carers looking after yourselves
Communication
Dressing
Early stages of Alzheimer’s disease
Eating
Explaining to children
Guidelines for choosing a long-term care facility
Incontinence
Safety in the home
Walking about or wandering
What is aids related cognitive impairment
What is dementia
What is frontal-temporal dementia
What is vascular dementia
The brain and behaviour

Afrikaans

10 Early Warning Signs
Aggressive behaviour
Basic Principles For understanding and caring for a person with Alzheimer’s
Carers looking after yourselves
Communication
Dressing
Eating
Explaining to children
Guidelines for choosing a long-term care facility
Incontinence
Safety in the home
What is aids related cognitive impairment
What is dementia
What is frontal-temporal dementia
What is vascular dementia

Zulu

10 Early Warning Signs
Aggressive behaviour
Basic Principles For understanding and caring for a person with Alzheimer’s
Carers looking after yourselves
Communication
Dressing
Early stages Alzheimer’s disease
Eating
Explaining to children
Guidelines for choosing a long-term care facility
Incontinence
Safety in the home
Walking about or wandering
What is aids related cognitive impairment
What is Alzheimer’s disease
What is dementia
What is frontal-temporal dementia
What is Vascular Dementia

SeSotho

10 Early Warning Signs
Basic principles for understanding a person with Alzheimer’s
Carers looking after yourself
Communication
Dressing
Eating
Explaining dementia to children
Guidelines for choosing a long-term care facility
Incontinence
Safety in the home
Walking about or wandering
What is aids related cognitive impairment
What is Alzheimer’s disease
What is dementia
What is frontal-temporal dementia
Aggressive behaviour
Early Stages of Alzheimers
The brain and the behaviour
What is Vascular dementia

Do you need support with the care of someone with dementia?

Dementia SA offers support groups where we discuss the challenges of dementia, provide counseling and support. For more information please contact us.

Support groups list

Making Memories Matter

Every three seconds a new case of dementia is diagnosed worldwide. Alzheimer’s and stroke is 2 of the main reasons for dementia development. It is crucial to detect dementia early on in its progression, to help the person with dementia, who could be you, or your family and friends, optimally.

Film credit: Michelle Pretorius

Video resources

Donate

Dementia SA relies on the support of individuals, members, the communities it serves and the business sector in order to render the essential services it provides. If you would like to discuss other ways to make a financial contribution please contact us.

Donate via SnapScan

Donate via PayPal

Donate via bank transfer

Bank: First National Bank
Branch: 255 655 (Adderley Street)
Account: 621 037 511 96
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ20140962103751196

Please email proof of payment to accounts@dementiasa.org

CONTACT OUR NATIONAL HELP LINE

0860 MEMORY / 0860 636 679

Dementia SA contact details

+27 21 421 0077 | +27 21 421 0078 | +27 21 418 5888
+27 21 418 2772
info@dementiasa.org

Membership & accounts enquiries
accounts@dementiasa.org

Executive director
director@dementiasa.org

Public Relations
publicrelations@dementiasa.org

Social worker
support@dementiasa.org

Postal address
P.O.Box 16421, Vlaeberg 8018

Physical address
4th floor, 79 Roeland Street, Cape Town, 8001

Enquiries and requests for information

Legal information

Dementia SA is a registered Non Profit and Public Benefit Organisation (NPO 049-191 | PBO 930022142)
All donations to Dementia SA are tax deductible in South Africa under the provisions of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act.
All donors in South Africa donating amounts larger than R100 will be issued with a Section 18A tax certificate which can be submitted with their annual SARS return.
Dementia SA is a certified B-BBEE Level 4 Contributor (between 65 and 75).
Dementia SA has a B-BBEE Procurement Recognition Level of 100%.