Building awareness on dementia in the heartlands.

 

As part of Dementia Singapore’s #ShineForDementia and in commemoration of World Alzheimer’s Day, Frasers Property Singapore (FPS) has lighted up three of its malls – Century Square, Northpoint City and The Centrepoint – in a shade of purple. For the first time, the light-up initiative which seeks to raise awareness of the condition and those impacted by it extends beyond iconic landmarks and moves into the heartlands.

In partnership with SG Enable, Dementia Singapore and St Andrew’s Autism Centre, FPS has also designed the Inclusion Champions Programme, a comprehensive multi-module training programme for frontline employees and retail tenants. Divided into three crucial modules – “Disability Awareness Talk”, “Dementia Awareness Workshop”, and “First Responder Training for Autism-related Incidents” – the fully sponsored programme is tailored to equip these Inclusion Champions with the tools and knowledge they need to make public spaces more accessible and comfortable for everyone.

Participating stores and its customer service counters also will serve as dementia-go-to points to assist and support those living with dementia. All in all, there will be 29 dementia go-to points across its malls when the programme is rolled out.

The inaugural batch of Inclusion Champions includes well-known brands like Better Vision, Cathay Cineplexes, EC House, Eu Yan Sang, Golden Village, Metro, OSIM, Scoop Wholefoods, Shaw Theatres and Toys “R” Us, alongside FPS staff.

FPS is also partnering with Lions Befrienders and supporting its IM-OK Programme through a corporate volunteering project. The programme complements ongoing government efforts to improve the health and well-being of seniors, specifically in digital literacy and social connectedness.

Employee volunteers in Singapore are trained by the IM-OK team from Lions Befrienders and form teams to help seniors navigate the IM-OK device. This device empowers seniors to self-monitor their well-being and share it with their next of kin, thus reducing the risks of accidents, enhancing their sense of security, and reducing isolation.

The IM-OK programme aims to empower seniors to be active partners in their own well-being. They learn to independently operate the IM-OK device, gaining a measure of autonomy and confidence that goes beyond the specific functionalities of the device itself. The volunteers offer more than technical guidance; they offer companionship, social interaction and the human connection that is so vital for mental wellness at any age, but particularly so in the later stages of life.