HRH Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim gracing the opening of the BebeLEC Daycare Centre building.

IPOH, 21 September 2022 - HRH Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim graced the opening of the BebeLEC Daycare Centre building for dementia patients, such as Alzheimer's, at Jalan Lang, Padang Tembak here today.

Her Royal Highness also launched a short guidebook on dementia titled ‘Adakah Sifat Pelupa Sesuatu Yang Normal?’ (Is Forgetfulness Normal?)

At the event, HRH Tuanku Zara, accompanied by BAIDURI President Datin Seri Aezer Zubin, signed a plaque before visiting the centre.

Also present were Deputy Education Minister Dato' Dr. Mah Hang Soon and Perak Dementia Association Chairman Professor Dr Esther Ebenezer.

According to Professor Dr. Esther, BebeLEC started operations in July last year and is the country’s first dementia centre with a therapeutic garden and virtual forest cognitive stimulation room.

Besides music therapy, the centre provides reflexology, beauty care, a salon and gymnasium to promote physical and mental health for dementia patients aged 60 and over.

Currently, the centre has 20 dementia patients aged between 60 and 93 years old who are being looked after by several volunteers from 8am to 5pm every day.

She added that 126,000 dementia patients were recorded in 2020 and the disease can affect individuals as early as their 50s.

"It is important for those with early symptoms to seek accurate diagnosis to get the necessary treatment to deal with the symptoms and maintain quality of life.

"Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease, or the gradual and progressive depletion of brain nerve cells which is the main cause of dementia, i.e. a variety of symptoms or syndromes that arise due to the deterioration of brain function," she said.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.