Eldercare agencies in talks to set up national dementia registry

This post came out from The Straits Times (24 January 2016)

Patients with dementia could have their details logged in a national database to help the authorities identify them more easily. The move would help police to find out if a disoriented people has dementia and, if so, which next of kin to contact.

Family members could also rely on the registry if they need cooperation from the private sector, such as getting telcos to track phone signals of missing patients or getting banks to look out for big withdrawals.

Mr Jason Foo, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Disease Association (ADA), has suggested such a registry to the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) after attempts to locate missing dementia patients were hampered by red tape, such as needing to file a missing person report before telcos can track phone signals.

"There were also one or two cases of our elderly clients who went into a shop and took something," he said. "The shopkeeper said they didn't pay, but they thought they did because they could not remember. The police came in, didn't recognise dementia and handcuffed the client." The Sunday Times understands that discussions are going on between ADA, AIC and police.

"If we have a registry, it would be most useful if it has photos that can be searched. What happens now is that the police picks them up, then take them to the hospital. But it is hard to identify them, as their names are unknown," said Associate Professor Philip Yap, senior consultant at the department of geriatric medicine, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Such a registry could also help with planning aged care services in Singapore, according to Dr Ng Wai Chong, chief of clinical affairs at the Tsao Foundation, a non-profit group which specialises in ageing issues. "We can see where the dementia patients are and if the number of day care centres there are enough. It will help us understand the complete needs of the population."

In Singapore, dementia affects an estimated one in 10 people aged over 60. There were approximately 40,000 dementia patients in the Republic as of last year and that number is projected to reach 92,000 by 2030.

Currently, the Ministry of Health knows who has been diagnosed with dementia and the ADA maintains a database of those who have come to it for help, but there is no national registry. Only Sweden and France currently have one in place.

A dementia database will require the support of sufferers and their families, who might not want their loved ones to be registered due to the stigma attached.

Thoughts:

1. Working with big data across agencies can lessen the stress that the dementia elderly and family members experience should any incident happen. It also facilitates planning and raising of awareness so that we can build an inclusive community!

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big