Appeal
<p>Imagine you want to visit your son in Toronto and when you land at the airport, you're unable to recognize who your son is. This is not a story, but a real incident which occurred with our first Dementia day care center patient. Since then, in the past 3 years, we have come across hundreds of such anecdotes - leaving us speechless yet determined to improve the quality of lives of such senior citizens. In the past 3 years, my commitment to the cause of Dementia care and awareness has only multiplied. I have raised awareness on Dementia through various online webinars and have engaged in on-ground activation to bring this silent epidemic to the fore. I noticed that there is not only misinformation but a complete lack of knowledge on this issue. I also learned that even the medical fraternity is facing limitations in tackling Dementia, due to prevalent taboos and lack of finances, infrastructure and support services. I have also started a dementia awareness channel Defeat Dementia to utilize the power of social media for creating dementia awareness. Taking this one step ahead, I have pledged to raise funds for Dignity Foundation, which was incepted to tackle the cause of dementia among senior citizens 30 years ago. Dignity Foundation runs 5 dementia day care centers in various cities to provide tender love and care services to elders with Dementia along with therapies and cognitive activities to keep the members engaged throughout the day. Through these activities, the progression of Dementia slows down. The centers also help to reverse behavioral symptoms among dementia members, reducing their aggression and stress levels. Through my run, I want to impact more lives of elders living with Dementia and bring about relief in the lives of their families - being rest assured that their loved one is being cared for in a safe, secure and loving environment.</p>
