Today, Sept. 21, is World Alzheimer's Day. It is wonderful that several activities are taking place in our municipality on World Alzheimer's Day to make us all aware of what dementia is. The national theme is ‘Together at Table’ with, in the municipality of Moerdijk, a buffet with caregivers in the library and an Alzheimer's Café with Experience Tables in the library. In Moerdijk we will additionally do something extra. We have a nice gift in store for people with dementia, who live in or use day care, in the Moerdijk nursing homes.

World Alzheimer's Day
Social Domain Councilwoman Pauline Joosten: “Because of my background in music education and music therapy, I know what music does to people. As far as I'm concerned, music is also a form of musical care. It releases emotions and often evokes old memories, also in people with dementia. Precisely because music is one of the few ways to still reach someone with advanced dementia, it is an ideal tool for day care. I can be moved to tears when I see how people who are completely introverted are reached by a song. Sometimes for a very brief moment, but sometimes for a little longer”.

It was therefore a great desire of the alderman to do something nice in the context of World Alzheimer's Day especially for the people affected and not just leave it at educating residents. “Especially the people who suffer from a form of Alzheimer's I do not want to skip,” Pauline continued.

Musical salute at nursing homes
Therefore, starting September 25, we will deliver a musical greeting to a number of Moerdijk nursing homes where people with dementia live. The aim is to visit all homes once with a musical surprise. For this, the municipality has chosen the help of Yvon Kanters of Myoso Music. Myoso Music is about passion, heart and love for every human being coming together through music. Originally, Yvon is a social worker and singer. With her singing voice she tries to touch the soul of each resident. Especially for each resident she sings a song. Do they like classical music or soul, nothing is unknown.

Loving
The number of people with dementia will increase explosively in the coming years, from 290,000 now to over 620,000 in 2050. Similarly in the municipality of Moerdijk where the number of residents with dementia is estimated to increase by 227%, from 660 people in 2020 to 1,500 in 2050. Pauline: “Of course we anticipate this and set out policy. That is necessary. And to do that well, as an administrator you also have to be in the capillaries of society and know what is needed. “Loving” is not immediately the first word you will associate with “governing a municipality,” but that is important to me within the social domain in Moerdijk. I look at each task from the (aid) demand of the people who need it. Also for people with (advanced) dementia I am their alderman. Therefore this gesture”.