Facing dementia alone

A growing number of seniors live alone and also suffer from dementia. How do they battle the illness, with no one to watch over them?

Mr Saravanamuthu Marimuthu, who lives alone in a one-room rental flat in Ang Mo Kio, was diagnosed with dementia in 2016. A home care associate of the Awwa dementia day care centre, situated at his block, checks in on him daily.
Mr Saravanamuthu Marimuthu, who lives alone in a one-room rental flat in Ang Mo Kio, was diagnosed with dementia in 2016. A home care associate of the Awwa dementia day care centre, situated at his block, checks in on him daily. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Mr Teng Seng Chye (in beige shirt), being helped by staff members from Awwa. He lives alone in a two-room rental flat in Whampoa and goes to a dementia day care service run by the Tsao Foundation at the Whampoa Community Club.
Mr Teng Seng Chye (in beige shirt), being helped by staff members from Awwa. He lives alone in a two-room rental flat in Whampoa and goes to a dementia day care service run by the Tsao Foundation at the Whampoa Community Club. ST PHOTO: JANICE TAI
Social Affairs Correspondent
Updated
Published
May 26, 2019 at 5:00 AM
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The mild-to-moderate dementia suffered by Mr Saravanamuthu Marimuthu, 71, means he cannot remember to brush his teeth or have a bath in the morning, much less take the eight tablets he needs every day for his chronic illnesses.

If there was no one to give him a change of clothes after his shower, he would keep wearing the same things.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on May 26, 2019, with the headline Facing dementia alone. Subscribe

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MCI (P) 031/10/2021, MCI (P) 032/10/2021. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2021 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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