Memory clinics need of the hour, say experts

Dearth in professional care for Alzheimer's and dementia in Bengaluru

If financial constraints is one of the main factors contributing to the inefficient management of Alzheimer’s disease, minimal access to professional assistance is another.

Cases of Alzheimer’s and in turn dementia are in growing numbers. For a City that has a large number of old-age homes, those offering professional care for dementia patients are a few.

Ritu (name changed) whose father suffers from Alzheimer’s speaks about the challenges they had to face to get medical care for him. 

Ritu had to move to New Delhi recently. However, having no choice, she had to leave her father who is a senior citizen behind at Nightingales Medical Trust in Bengaluru. The reason being, the fewer options to get professional help in New Delhi. “Most day-care centres do not have trained hands to deal with patients who have Alzheimer’s. We found several day-care homes in Bengaluru. Most of them, however, said they did not have professionals who could take care of senior citizens with dementia. To look out for a place is itself a tedious task,” she said and added, “Even as there are several caregivers, not many are trained to handle Alzheimer’s.”

Ask mental health professionals in the City and they say that not more than five centres in Bengaluru have a full fledged clinic to manage dementia patients. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dr Radha S Murthy, president, Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India - Bengaluru Chapter, said to set up memory clinics is the need of the hour.

“For someone with behavioural disorders, who is unable to do their day-to-day activities or to help active aging, a memory clinic is necessary. Cognitive stimulation is necessary to facilitate this and effective management can lower the risk factors,” said Dr Radha.

Nidhi Dev, neuropsychologist, Cognitive Neurology Clinic said recent studies indicate that dementia cases are expected to double by 2030. “Care is based on individual needs and rate of deterioration. Sometimes, the caregivers themselves are stressed. It is essential to have support groups,” she added.

Dev also suggests that anyone getting into an old-age home ought to be screened for symptoms of dementia and ideally, the screening has to be repeated once every six months.