Dementia in Sri Lanka: A conversation with Tami Tamitegama

Tami Tamitegama is the President of the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation. Dementia is a global and growing problem, and when juxtaposed with Sri Lanka’s ageing population, places demands on our healthcare system the country is ill-placed to meet, and hasn’t even planned for.

This conversation was recorded a few days after World Alzheimer’s Day and touches on the social and health dimensions of dementia and the mindset change necessary to tackle it. Tami also talks in depth about active ageing, and how the aged can and must be fully active members of society. The WHO defines active ageing as the “continuing participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs, not just the ability to be physically active or to participate in the labour force.”