Dementia Awareness: Going Door-to-Door to Break the Silence

During Dementia Awareness Month, Grace Link Springs of Hope teamed up with mental health and dementia awareness organizations for a crucial community outreach campaign. We went door-to-door, visiting homes, listening to caregivers, and mapping elders living with dementia.

The goal was clear: gather the evidence required to ensure dementia is properly recognized and included in our health system.

Too many families are managing this in silence. Too many elders are misunderstood or stigmatized. The harmful belief that dementia is witchcraft continues to cause suffering in our communities.

We believe:
• Every elder deserves dignity
• Every caregiver deserves support
• Dementia is not witchcraft - it is a medical condition

Through our door-to-door visits, we:
• Mapped elders living with dementia in our community
• Listened to the challenges caregivers face daily
• Provided information and support resources
• Challenged misconceptions about dementia
• Connected families with healthcare services

Our intergenerational dialogues on elderly abuse have identified common forms of abuse:
• Elderly being denied food by relatives
• Physical abuse by family members
• Accusations of witchcraft
• Denial of proper healthcare
• Denial of shelter by immediate family
• Ageism and prejudice

This campaign is part of our ongoing commitment to protecting elderly persons and ensuring they receive the dignity, care, and respect they deserve. We continue to advocate for better dementia awareness and support systems in Kilifi County.

If you or someone you know is caring for a person with dementia, please reach out. You are not alone, and help is available.