Ha se baloi, they are our elders

“Ge ba bona mokekolo a befile e bile a le yo mosehla, baya mmolaya bare o a loya. Aowa le seke la re feletsa bo nkgono ba rona, re sa ba rata ke badimo ba rona” the lyrics from the late Limpopo musician, Umanji’s 1999 hit song titled “Moloi” describes how elder persons are associated with witchcraft. Moloi is a word that translate to a witch, a degrading word that infringes on a person’s dignity that needs to be disassociated with older people in this century since more awareness is raised about conditions commonly associated with elderly people.

The world observes Alzheimer Day in September to raise awareness amongst older people and society in general, about the condition which contributes to dementia amongst majority of older people.

Aligning with the world, the Limpopo provincial government gathered various stakeholders with more than four hundred pensioners at Marotabongwasha Tribal Hall in the Fetakgomo Tubatse local municipality on Thursday, 18 September.

Alzheimer is described as a progressive brain disorder, and a common cause of dementia which destroys memory.

Ms Rose representing the Association for Dementia and Alzheimer’s of South Africa (ADASA) said, there’s generally lack of awareness and inadequate support for older people in rural communities especially in Limpopo province.

“ Theres still so much stigma about elders suffering from Alzheimer and dementia, they are accused of witchcraft. Awareness campaigns like today assist in communicating with families of those affected. This is part of ageing and nothing to do with witchcraft”. said Rose
ADASA pleaded with families to be careful, and not allow themselves to be scammed by marketing and sales people who sell different types of medication, misinforming those suffering from Alzheimer and dementia that they will be healed. “There is no cure for this condition, it’s part of adult life”.

A person suffering from Alzheimer will often be seen in engaging in strange behavior like walking around without clothes in the streets, going to the neighbours houses thinking they are within their property, and doing what they will normally do like sleeping under the tree.

Signs suggesting that a person suffers from Alzheimer include repeating conversations and asking questions repetitively forgetting what a person mentioned already multiple times. Forgetting names including the people they stay with, and generally not having the ability to follow basic daily activities such as making meaningful conversation at home.

With memory loss condition, criminals and other family members thrive in executing criminal acts such as rapping elderly women taking advantage of their mental ability. Children and grandchildren rob those suffering by manipulating them to give out their bank cards to use the social grands and pension funds for their benefits not considering the best interest of Alzheimer patients. EC