Grey Power June 2016

national Greypower mAGAZINE » june 2016 41
Global expert in dementia care talks about
dementia-friendly cities
International expert in dementia
care, Professor Graham Stokes,
believes more needs to be done to
raise awareness and understanding
of dementia – a disease that is set to
double in the next 35 years.
While visiting New
Zealand Professor
Stokes presented
on the topic at various
public talks that promised
to provide guests
with an understanding
of the challenges communities
are faced with
in supporting those
with dementia out in the
community.
With ageing populations
worldwide and the
numbers of people living
with dementia set to rise
everywhere, but most of all
in low and middle income
countries [i] , dementia truly
is a global challenge.
This year marks a critical
stage in the journey
towards a future where
people understand dementia
– currently affecting 44
million people worldwide
– including how they can
reduce their risk of the disease,
and that those living
with dementia are able to
live well.
By 2050, 147,359 New
Zealanders will have dementia
– more than 2.6
percent of the population,
and more than triple current
numbers.
Of the total, 87,145
(59%) will be female and
60,214 (41%) male. Annual
incidences (onset) of dementia
will also more than
triple, to 41,088 new cases
by the year 2050[ii].
Fortunately, the journey
has already begun. Faced
with the social and economic
challenge of ageing
populations, and the fact
that more people will never
fully retire from the workplace
or duties of care, we
have a global need for a dementia
friendly society.
Professor Graham
Stokes, global director of
Dementia Care at Bupa, an
author and clinician who
is also an internationally
recognised authority on dementia
care practice and
policy, clarifies the current
situation:
“As we address dementia
today and also in the
future, we need to put the
person they are at the centre
of their care - treat people
living with dementia as
unique individuals, understanding
who they are, their
“Never Too Old”: Lifelong learning at the
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury
has appointed
Dr Jeffrey Paparoa Holman
as a lifelong learning
coordinator in the
Faculty of Arts to work
with those over 55 years
of age: Mature students
and those of us in retirement.
Dr Holman, 68, returned
to study at the age
of 50 in 1997 to complete
an unfinished Bachelors’
degree from the 1970s.
Even with previous experience
of university life, he
was nervous about starting
again. “It was more than 25
years ago: What if my brain
wasn’t up to it now?”
Taking the plunge, he
went on to complete a degree
in English Honours
with a Graduate Diploma
of Arts in Maori and finally
a doctorate in Maori Studies.”
“Study has changed my
life, it has opened doors I
life story, and the reality in
which they are living.”
One of the
biggest issues
is making
dementia
relevant and
addressing
public
misconception,
fear and
stigma.
“People are living longer
and countries having
to cope with rapidly ageing
populations.
“At the moment, only
around half of people living
with dementia in high-income
countries actually get
a diagnosis.
Jeffrey Paparoa Holman
could never have imagined.
I have travelled widely both
in New Zealand and overseas
and I have managed
to publish books with skills
learned here at Canterbury.”
“Opportunity cost, opportunity
lost,” he says.
“The opportunity cost of a
choice is what we give up
to get it. University study
changed all that for me and
you can enjoy its benefits.
We are never, ever, too
old.”
He knows about fear
of failure; university can
seem like a foreign country
where they speak a different
language. Yet many
“In developing countries,
it’s only around ten
percent. While these numbers
should improve slightly
in the next few decades,
the reality is that countries
with emerging economies
will have huge numbers of
people living with dementia,
of which the vast majority
will remain undiagnosed.
“This puts an enormous
strain on families and communities,
as they won’t
have access to the support
they need,” said Professor
Stokes.
One of the biggest issues
is making dementia relevant
and addressing public
misconception, fear and
stigma.
In doing this, the dementia
challenge must be
seen as relevant to everyone,
whether schoolteacher,
employer, carer, managing
physician or nurse.
Professor Stokes is a
clinical psychologist who
has been working in the
field of dementia care for
three decades. He has been
instrumental in leading
person-centred approaches
to care in his field. His research
interests lie in understanding
and resolving
challenging behaviour in
dementia and helping people
with dementia live the
mature students come into
study and succeed.
Many in their sixties,
seventies and even eighties,
come to Canterbury
and take degrees, certificates
and courses for credit.
“We have a whole range
of options now”, he says.
“We elders are smart, we’re
experienced and we know
how to apply ourselves after
a working life.”
There is also a Dean’s
Award to students in the
above age range who have
not been enrolled at the
university in the past five
years. The Faculty offers
a significant course fee reduction
in Arts courses in
the first year of study: “Students
over the age of 55
may qualify for a College
best lives they can.
According to Professor
Stokes, many people believe
dementia will strike later in
life, however, people can
begin developing the disease
in their mid-40s.
While improving our
ability for early diagnosis
is a priority, it’s also important
for the community to
learn how to support people
with dementia.
You’re never
too old
Advertorial
Award for undergraduate
study commencing semester
one 2016. Successful
applicants receive 50 percent
off their first enrolment
for up to 120 points
of courses in 2016.”
More detail on enrolment
and courses can be found on
this link for Lifelong Learning
on the University’s website:
http://www.arts.canterbury.
ac.nz/lifelonglearning/
Happy to hear from you, Jeffrey
can be contacted at the
University:
Dr Jeffrey Paparoa Holman
Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator
University of Canterbury
03 364 2987 ext 7643
Mobile 021 183 9833
Email: jeffrey.holman@
canterbury.ac.nz
Voluntary Euthanasia Society NZ
Become a member to help legalise medically assisted dying
for the terminally ill or those with unbearable suffering.
Go to our website www.ves.org.nz to find
more information and join a branch in your area.
Central office: Telephone (09 215 4964)
PO Box 89046, Torbay, Auckland 0742.
Whether you are interested in ancient civilisations, local or world
history, literature, languages, politics, or philosophy, UC Arts has
courses that will inspire and invigorate your mind.
Students over the age of 55 may qualify for a Lifelong Learning
College Award for undergraduate study in 2016. Successful
applicants receive 50% off their first enrolment.
To apply for a Lifelong Learning College Award
email artsdegreeadvice@canterbury.ac.nz
www.arts.canterbury.ac.nz/lifelonglearning