The Dementia Care Foundation (TDCF), a non-profit organisation on OMR, along with UDHAVI, an NGO specialising in elderly care in Adyar, organised a summer camp for kids and elders. Through this camp, they aimed to sensitise children, elders and caregivers about elders with dementia, the problems they grapple with, and how to respond to them.
“The novelty of this summer camp lies in the intergenerational bonding, where kids got to perform a plethora of activities with elders, as well as elders with dementia,” said TDCF. The activities ranged from yoga, karate, storytelling, music and dance, drawing kolams, and tying beautiful flower garlands to arts and crafts, fireless cooking, sewing, playing traditional games like ‘Paramapadam,’ ‘Pallanguzhi,’ Goli and ‘Adu Puli Aatam’ and laughter therapy. Resource persons, from UDHAVI as well as other organisations like HelpAge India, Vishranthi, and Bamboola volunteered to conduct these activities.
The elders in particular, after engaging with the children in the activities felt like children themselves once again. The camp concluded with a joyous valedictory celebration, a reflective culmination of the days bygone, filled with performances by the children themselves, music, and the endless memories that would be forever reminisced.
The Dementia Care Foundation provides dementia day care and in-patient care services for those who have dementia. Additionally, they also offer a caregiver support group, specifically catered to the caregivers of patients to give them a safe space to express their concerns and grievances. For help for patients with dementia, contact The Dementia Care Foundation at 9344257901 and 24964555.
