Round Table Discussion with Australian-Filipino Community Services Inc.
The Australian-Filipino Community Services Inc conducted a virtual roundtable discussion on “What Happens Next after a Dementia Diagnosis” on November 19, 2021. Real-life stories of Filipino carers and doctors on their experience about dementia among Filipinos living in Melbourne, Australia. The program started with a welcome address by Maina Walkley, the manager of Filipinos Ageing in Foreign Land and a prayer by Norminda Forteza, the Chaplain of the organization. Consul General Ma. Lourdes Salcedo gave opening remarks. The following were the topics, with the corresponding speakers: Barriers and enablers: Interventions that support the wellbeing of Filipino family carers by Zeny Geronimo and Ruby Ocampo; Challenges in diagnosis and access to language-specific diagnostic tools by Dr. Lorinda De Leon, Dementia Society of the Philippines and access to language-specific dementia diagnostic tools by Dr. Ma. Lourdes Corrales-Joson and Culturally relevant activities and support for the person with dementia and their carers by the Australian-Filipino Community Services.
The activity highlighted the need for continued services of Filipinos to their countrymen in Australia suffering from dementia since they can respond better to the culturally specific needs of these individuals. Validated cognitive assessment tools are available and can be used to assess individuals suspected to have cognitive impairment and monitor them over time. The collaboration of the Australian-Filipino Community Services and the Dementia Society of the Philippines should continue and be further strengthened to better serve the ageing Filipinos in Australia.