By Neil Armstrong
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| Photo credit: Simon Samuel Left to right: Danielle Farrell, public education coordinator, Alzheimer's Society of Peel; Primrose Mharapara, nurse practitioner, University Health Network; and Ken Noel, president, The Walnut Foundation |
Being physically active, socially connected and mentally
engaged are important for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
This was the key message at a symposium about Alzheimer’s,
dementia and caregiving held in the auditorium of the Bramalea Baptist Church
in Brampton, Ontario to recognize Black History Month.
Organized by The Walnut Foundation, a men’s health interest
group and prostate cancer support group comprised mainly of Caribbean men, the
event attracted 125 people featuring presentations by Danielle Farrell, public
education coordinator of the Alzheimer’s Society of Peel and Primrose
Mharapara, nurse practitioner of the University Health Network.
There was also a discussion about the caregiving experience
by Grace Hope, Lana Salmon and Charmaine McKintosh who offered glimpses into
their lived reality of caring for their loved ones.
Ken Noel, president of The Walnut Foundation, said the idea
for the event’s focus came out of the input from previous symposiums where
people wanted to know more about diseases that affect the Black community that
are not talked about within the Black community.
Mharapara, whose presentation was entitled “Dementia and
Alzheimer’s – The long goodbye,” said people are living longer as technology
has contributed a lot to improved health outcome.
She shared the experience of advising her Zimbabwean father
to control his blood pressure and blood sugar level, of getting rid of salt
from his diet, and the need to eat healthy, exercise and to sleep well. The
recommendation is 30 minutes of moderate or high- energy exercise per day
amounting to 150 minutes over five days.
Speaking of “Taking charge of your brain health” and
“Caregiving,” Farrell said there is no place in the world where dementia does
not exist but the lowest rate is in the Mediterranean and what reports have
shown is that the diet of their lifestyle accounts for this occurrence.
She underscored the significance of eating healthy – fish,
poultry, vegetables and fruits – drinking enough water to keep hydrated and
getting adequate sleep because lack of sleep will “do horrible things to your
brain.”
Farrell also recommended turning off the cellphone or
television thirty minutes before going to bed because not doing so will
negatively impact sleep.
The Walnut Foundation was established in 2007 to work with
the Black community in identifying the needs of Black men in the areas of
health and related issues, and to provide a forum for discussion in a safe and
comfortable environment.
“Trying to get Black men to talk about prostate health was a
challenge so we decided to extend it to health, in general, and that attracted
a lot more people into the organization,” says Noel about the organization, which
was founded initially as a prostate cancer support group.
At their monthly meetings men are invited to attend and to
speak about their experience and the healthcare system.
“What are they facing? Are they facing racism? Speak about
it, then what can we do about it as The Walnut Foundation? Who can we advocate
to, to improve their experiences with going to the doctors?”
The organization collaborates with the Black Health
Alliance, Prostate Cancer Canada, Princess Margaret Hospital, Mount Sinai
Hospital, and Sunnybrook Hospital in an effort to “build relationships with
those healthcare systems so that we can bring information to the men that will
help them as well,” says Noel.
It also seeks to influence public policy around the needs of
the Black community regarding specific diseases and to improve the quality of
life, functional performance and psychological adjustment of individuals and
families who have concerns about men’s health issues.
Acknowledging that the membership needs to outreach to young
men to get them involved, Noel noted that in May of this year there will be a
father-son day and the board of directors is planning to reserve a position for
a youth in its management structure.
On June 6, it will hold its annual fundraising walkathon for
its annual conference on men’s health, which happens in October.
In the meantime, the organization accepts invitations from
community and other groups to present on subjects such as prostate cancer
awareness and men taking responsibility for their health.
The symposium also recognized the contributions of its
founder, Dr. Winston Isaac, who died on February 15, 2019.
[This story has been published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, February 20-26, 2020.]
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