The cost of treating dementia patients on the Island is more than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined, according to Elizabeth Stewart, founder of the charity ‘Action on Alzheimer’s and Dementia.’

And with Bermuda’s ageing population, Ms Stewart warned that cost will only rise unless Bermuda develops a national plan for dementia treatment.

“We need to prepare Bermuda for the future,” Ms Stewart told Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday.

With Government statistics predicting that senior citizens will account for 22 percent of the population by 2030, the future, said Ms Stewart, is a dementia epidemic.

“It is clear to me that Bermuda needs a National Plan for Dementia, and recognition that this is a crisis for our country that is only going to get worse with an ageing population,” she said.

“National plans are being done around the world, but most governments are woefully unprepared for the dementia epidemic with only 13 countries having national dementia plans to date.”

Ms Stewart urged more awareness and education on an illness she said had been “ignored, hidden and remains largely undiagnosed and untreated” in Bermudian society.

“The level of awareness and understanding of dementia in our society and healthcare settings is poor,” said Ms Stewart. “It is the cancer of 30 years ago — the word that is not mentioned, the people not seen.”

Dementia sufferers in Bermuda number somewhere between 900 and 1,000, said Ms Stewart. According to census data from 2010, 783 residents suffer from Type 1 diabetes, 1099 are living with cancer, and 1978 are suffering from heart disease.

“I think everyone in this room would say that their understanding and awareness of those three areas of health is much higher than dementia, yet the numbers are not vastly different. So why is that?” she asked.

Stigma, a lack of education, and the idea that nothing could be done for those suffering from dementia has led to apathy toward the disease, said Ms Stewart.

“Why are we — and many other countries — so far behind in recognising dementia as a medical need, as the crisis we will face with an ageing population? Well, I believe there is still a stigma associated with dementia, an embarrassment about it. There is a real lack of understanding that this is truly a huge health issue for society and that it is an illness and not just part of getting old.”

Bermuda’s home-care infrastructure cannot support the needs of those with dementia today, despite a huge demand from the community, according to Ms Stewart, who added that education of care-workers is “a huge need as those in the industry received little to no training in dementia care.”

“Focus around the world is all about how we can live longer and extend our life. However...what is the point of extending our life into our 70s, 80s and 90s if that life is going to be one not worth living, one where we just ‘exist’ — why are we bothering?

“If we are going to have a longer life, we have to ensure that it has value and gives us a feeling of self worth, a reason to get up in the morning, rather than one with no meaningful activity or engagement on a daily basis. We must do better.”

But the responsibility for addressing dementia does not lie solely with Government, Ms Stewart urged.

“It is the responsibility of our society and as human beings. People talk about those ‘suffering’ with dementia. If people are suffering with dementia, it is not because of the disease but because of how they are being treated by those around them. Through supported good care practice and understanding, people can live well with dementia. If they suffer, the shame is on us.”