•Dolapo Adebiyi
A United Kingdom social care expert, Dolapo Adebiyi, has lamented the lack of understanding of dementia in Nigeria.
Dolapo, who is the Registered Manager at Emerald Care Services in the United Kingdom, expressed this concern to our correspondent recently, reports Saturday Tribune.
Adebiyi noted that elderly men and women are often labeled as witches and wizards when they make incoherent statements.
She explained that people tend to strip elderly individuals of their dignity and human rights due to these misconceptions, adding that anyone who doesn’t die young will eventually grow old.
Meanwhile, the expert vowed to give back to Nigeria by educating and re-orienting Nigerians on dementia, drawing from her extensive experience in social care in the United Kingdom.
“We do not understand dementia in Nigeria, and it breaks my heart. When I was growing up, a lot happened, and when I look back now, I begin to understand why.
“The work I do has exposed me to a lot, especially regarding dementia. It has become our specialty. We care for the elderly in the United Kingdom.
“When we discuss dementia, we talk about both health and social care in the UK. The health aspect is handled by the hospital, while we handle social care.
“When elderly people start to speak incoherently, we label them as witches and wizards.
“It is heartbreaking. With my experience in this field, I feel compelled to return to Nigeria to give back to society by educating people and communities about dementia.
“As I often say, if you don’t die young, you will grow old. When you view your aging parents and elderly people as witches or wizards, you discourage them from coming out, stripping them of their dignity and human rights.
“From all that I have learned here, I want to give back to Nigeria, particularly in the areas of dementia awareness and the management of elderly individuals,” she said.
