Two weeks ago it was the week against loneliness. Few will know this, and yet it affects many people. In 2022, 49 percent of the adult population indicated that they were lonely. Ten years earlier that was still 39 percent. Loneliness is greatest among the elderly. And due to the aging population, there are more and more elderly people.
One group that is particularly affected are people with dementia and their caregivers. Their number is also increasing: 1 in 5 people develops dementia. This progressive brain disease is disruptive. Too many people with dementia withdraw. Memory loss makes people insecure: some people prefer to avoid contact and become isolated. Someone has difficulty understanding a map or ordering a cup of coffee. It is not always visible on the outside, but there may be dementia symptoms. This concerns confusion, suspicion or inability to find words. Less well-known phenomena such as delusions or loss of decorum are also part of the symptoms.
Meeting places nearby ensure that people with dementia and their loved ones do not end up in isolation. But there are too few small-scale residential projects with communal areas for elderly people with early dementia. These types of living arrangements can significantly delay going to the nursing home. This saves a lot of healthcare costs. Yet housing associations prefer to build student housing rather than housing for the elderly. Even though both are desperately needed.
To combat isolation, we as a society must relate differently to people with dementia. Too often they are on the sidelines. Let’s focus more on what someone can do, instead of assuming limitations. Active participation in society slows down the progression of the disease. This makes a program like DemenTalent successful, in which people with dementia do volunteer work such as reading to children or caring for pets. We challenge employers and volunteer organizations to call on help from the elderly, including those with dementia.
Dementia and loneliness can happen to anyone. That is why we must look after this growing group. We all benefit if the elderly are a full part of our society.
Flora Breemer, district councilor of Amsterdam-Zuid
Marita van Onna, dementia care Zonnehuisgroep Amstelland
Also read:
Special homes for the elderly are a solution for the stagnant housing market, but construction is still not going smoothly
The Netherlands does not have enough homes that are suitable for the elderly. And the houses where they live could often fit an entire family. Two bottlenecks in one, and they cannot be solved easily.
Opinion: there is more than a nursing home bed
The call for more nursing home beds seems logical, but it is not. New forms of living and neighborhood initiatives can be an excellent alternative to the nursing home. This really benefits everyone, argues Marcel Canoy, professor of health economics and dementia at the VU.
2023-10-15 20:00:05
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