MEMORIES MATTER

Find out about the Association for Dementia and Alzheimer’s of South Africa NPC’s activities, and what we do to achieve our objectives.

The most beautiful moments always seemed to accelerate and slip beyond one’s grasp just when you want to hold onto them for as long as possible. Life’s most precious moments are not all loud or uproarious. Silence and stillness has its own virtues.

Our Story

We as the Association for Dementia and Alzheimer’s of South Africa NPC (ADASA) promote well-being and best practices in dementia care. We are dedicated to upskilling equipping, enriching, and supporting individuals, families, and care facilities working with people living with dementia.

Alzheimer’s South Africa NPC was founded in 1985 as a non-profit organisation managed by a national executive council. The organisation was registered as a non-profit company in October 2016 and managed by a board of directors. On 10 May 2023, we changed our name to the Association for Dementia and Alzheimer’s of South Africa NPC (ADASA) as was registered at CIPC.

ADASA NPC is the South African representative of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with dementia and those affected by it. For Alzheimer’s associations in other countries, please see ADI’s website, click here

ADASA NPC works with multiple organisations and partners to provide families with a broader range of services and activities. Currently, ADASA NPC is in all 9 provinces (North West province is supported by Gauteng). We have 29 permanent and contractual staff members. We do have an extra 20 community developers.

ADASA needs to play an advocacy role with the government and health institutions. We are now engaging with the Department of Social Development with advocacy and lobbying to establish a national development plan with the South African government. They also need to invest in and support research to assist people with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Our Vision

ADASA aspires to be recognised as the foremost beacon of hope and innovation in dementia care. We envision a future where our association is the leader in creating an inclusive society that embraces and respects the inherent dignity and rights of every individual impacted by dementia, enabling them to thrive within their communities.

Our Mission

ADASA leads in unity with compassion and expertise, driving the evolution of dementia awareness and care practices. We are dedicated to empowering individuals and care facilities by providing unparalleled support, education, and resources.

We will enhance the well-being and quality of life for those impacted by dementia, fostering resilience, dignity, and inclusion within our communities by developing and implementing strategic objectives.

Strategic Objectives

  1. Awareness and Education: Develop and implement comprehensive awareness campaigns and educational programs to increase the public’s, healthcare professionals’, caregivers’, and policymakers’ understanding and knowledge of dementia.
  2. Foster Collaboration and Partnerships: Forge strategic partnerships with healthcare organisations, academic institutions, government agencies, and community groups to collaborate on research initiatives, advocacy efforts, and the development of innovative dementia care models.
  3. Advocacy on various levels for policy changes to improve access to dementia care services, enhance funding for research, and promote policies that protect the rights and dignity of individuals living with dementia while also collaborating with healthcare providers, medical schemes, insurers, and retirement funds to improve awareness and ensure comprehensive support and coverage for dementia-related care needs.
  4. Promote Dementia-Friendly Communities: Work with local communities to promote dementia-friendly practices and environments that support the inclusion and participation of individuals living with dementia in social, recreational, and civic activities.
  5. Ensure Organisational Sustainability: Market and implement strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of ADASA, based on good legal standing and compliance regarding its fundraising initiatives, financial management practices, expertise, and capacity-building efforts to recruit and retain skilled staff and volunteers. Strengthen and expand quality support services for individuals living with dementia, their families, and caregivers by offering a wide range of resources, including helplines, support groups, counselling services, and respite care options.
  6. Measure and Evaluate Impact: Establish metrics and evaluation mechanisms to monitor the impact of ADASA’s programs and initiatives, regularly assess progress towards strategic goals, and make data-driven decisions to improve the organisation’s effectiveness and outcomes continuously.

Governance Structure

Board of Directors

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Adriaan Raubenheimer

Chairperson

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Julia Zingu

Professional Services

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Tshegofaco Phahlane

ADASA Treasurer

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Koos Nel

Marketing

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Dr. Keorapetse Nchoe

Neurologist

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Marlene Freislich

ADASA CEO

Our National Team

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Helena Steynberg

Technical Financial Accountant

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Ilse Schürmann

National Project & Media Manager

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Nerésa Bowen

Strategic Communication Strategist

Nancy

Nancy Kalaba

National Administrative Coordinator

Emile

Emile van Zyl

Marketing, Business Development & Fundraising

*Our Regional Managers and Social Workers are listed under Regions.

Getting Help

For information you are unable to find on this website, please email info@adasa.org.za or phone the national helpline, which will cost you the same as a local call regardless of where you are in South Africa.
National Helpline: 0860 102 681. Requests will be referred to your local region.

Support Services

Individual psycho-social support, family support, and counselling

These sessions can be provided face-to-face or online via Zoom, WhatsApp video, or telephone for persons living with dementia and their families.

ADASA renders therapeutic and support services, especially to the family (Nationally and Internationally) of the person who was diagnosed with a type of dementia.

Our consultations focus on an evaluation of the person’s background, unique needs, support systems, level of care needed, and legal liability as well as a collaborated plan of action. Furthermore, we provide information on various types of dementia and its effect on the brain, communication with the dementia person, behaviour challenges experienced such as mood disorders, sleeping problems, wandering, etc. We also evaluate the carer, especially if the carer is the husband/wife and also an elderly carer. Our priority is to render services to the person living with dementia and their family and/or support systems.

Dementia training courses

We have several training courses available for anyone interested in knowing more about dementia; for caregivers at home, in the community, and at residential facilities; for multi-professional team members, including health practitioners, social workers, psychologists, nurses, community workers, social auxiliary workers, and traditional healers.

Current courses available:

  • One-day workshop (everybody with an interest in dementia disease)
  • The two-day workshop (family members, caregivers at home and in facilities, social auxiliary workers, community workers, and volunteers)
  • Four-day workshop (multi-professional team)
  • Online training is also available (for everybody with an interest in dementia disease).

Courses can also be presented in a modular way to meet the need of the group or organisation that require the training.

Community awareness programmes

We do awareness raising and advocacy on dementia through, talks, presentations, lectures, and workshops for organisations, students, and communities. You can invite us to your expos, wellness days, and health and mental health campaigns.

Support groups

Support groups for a person living with dementia in its early stages as well as for family members of those living with dementia are available in all regions. Meetings are held monthly.

If there is not a support group in your area, please contact the ADASA National Office (+27 (0)11 792 2511) or our National Helpline (0860 102 681) to connect you with a group.

Screening

Not all regions offer initial screening. Our social workers conduct an initial assessment with the client and family system. This process includes a full history being taken and a psycho-social assessment. Collateral information from the next of kin in a very important aspect of the assessment. Included in this assessment is the administration of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). 

Should the information gathered in the initial assessment indicate a possibility of dementia, referral to an appropriate resource will take place. Included in the list of possible resources are psychiatrists, neurologists, neuro- psychologist, general practitioners, community clinics, etc. Scans and blood tests are an important part of the initial assessment. The diagnosis of dementia is ideally done by a multi-professional team with our social worker co-ordinating the team. Treatment goals should be formulated with the client and family thereafter. As we say at ADASA, whereas dementia cannot be cured, it can be well managed and the assessment is the first step in this process.

Flyers and pamphlets

We have a selection of 11 flyers and 2 pamphlets available electronically. For a hard copy, please note handling and administration fees plus postage fees must be covered by the person who places the order. Please contact Nancy Kalaba at our National Office at +27 (0)11 792 2511 or nancy.kalaba@adasa.org.za

We are available Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00.

Statement of Principles

ADASA NPC recognises the following principles as fundamental to the provision of care for people with dementia and for the support of their family members and caregivers:

  • A person with dementia continues to be a person of worth and dignity, deserving the same respect as any other human being.
  • People with dementia need a physically safe living environment and protection from exploitation and abuse of persons and property.
  • People with dementia require up-to-date information and access to coordinated medical, psychological, rehabilitative, and welfare services. Anyone thought to have dementia needs prompt medical assessment and those with dementia require ongoing care and treatment orientated to maximising their quality of life.
  • People with dementia should as far as possible participate in decisions affecting their daily lives and future care.
  • The family caregivers of a person with dementia should have their needs assessed and provided for and should be enabled to take an active role in this process.
  • Adequate resources should be available and promoted to support people with dementia and their caregivers throughout the course of dementia.
  • Understanding the experience of living with dementia, especially from the perspectives of persons with dementia and of their carers, is vital to providing effective advocacy, care of good quality, and meaningful rehabilitation. Information, education, and training on dementia, its effects, and how to provide care, must be available to all those involved in the assistance of people with dementia.

Code of Ethics

The company and all its constituent officers and bodies share a common commitment to the following fundamental values, namely to:

Act with integrity and fairness by:

  • ensuring honesty in all dealings.
  • respecting an individual’s right to privacy.
  • obtaining permission from a responsible person before divulging or sharing personal information.

Be an informed advocate for people with the disease, their carers, and their families by:

  • lobbying at the local and national levels for improved services and assistance.
  • advocating for the interests of individuals or families in the communities concerned.
  • creating awareness of appropriate legal protection and procedures.


Provide accurate information by:

  • actively making training and educational material available to all stakeholders.
  • actively raising awareness of and empathy for, at local and national levels, the nature of the disease and its effects.

     

Be accountable to its consumers, the community, and funding sources by:

  • incorporating quality assurance into the services of ADASA.
  • keeping proper financial records that are audited annually.
 
Demonstrate a commitment to people with the disease and their families by:
  • maintaining a consistently high standard in all activities.
  • being visually active and conveying a progressive public image.


Offer a flexible service that caters to cultural differences by:

  • recognising multi-cultural communities and their particular needs.
  • consulting and gaining knowledge of cultural communities.

Value the commitment of volunteers and support groups by:
  • recognising their particular strengths and capabilities.
  • creating an environment within which a climate of belonging is fostered.
  • involving them in ongoing planning and evaluation.

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