Geriatric Mental Health Session by DEMCARES, SCARF - Adaiyalam'26 Chennai Mental Health Fest

Facilitated by DEMCARES, SCARF, this session offered participants a grounded, human introduction to dementia: what it actually is, how it reshapes lives, and where dementia care is headed. After a welcome and a round of introductions from the moderators, participants introduced themselves too, setting an interactive tone from the start.

The discussion opened by turning the question back on the room: what did participants already understand about dementia, and what did they imagine working with someone living with it would involve? Building on those answers, the moderators framed dementia as an umbrella term covering a range of conditions that affect memory, thinking, behaviour, and social functioning and not a single, uniform diagnosis. The scale of the issue came into sharp focus with the numbers: roughly 8.8 million people are currently living with dementia, or nearly one in every thirteen people, a statistic the facilitators used to underline just how urgently communities need to build awareness and preparedness.

A key part of the session was drawing a clear line between normal ageing, age-related cognitive change, and dementia itself — helping participants see how dementia moves well past the occasional memory lapse that comes with growing older. The facilitators walked through how the condition progresses, its various forms, and the way it gradually touches cognition, behaviour, emotional regulation, communication, and everyday functioning. Special attention was given to spotting early warning signs and the value of catching the condition early through proper assessment and diagnostic tools.

The session didn't stop at clinical understanding. It also made room for the lived reality of caregivers and families highlighting the gaps in research, the difficulty accessing treatment, and the long, often invisible work of long-term caregiving. Participants learned that effective dementia care goes well beyond medication, with both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches discussed in depth, all aimed at improving quality of life, preserving cognitive function, and supporting emotional wellbeing.

The second half of the session turned to Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST): its structure, its goals, and how it's adapted for both high-functioning and low-functioning individuals. Participants came away understanding how CST sessions are built around structured activities designed to encourage communication, memory recall, orientation, and social interaction, tailored to what each person is capable of.

Then came the session's most striking segment: Virtual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (VCST), an emerging approach that pairs virtual reality with traditional cognitive stimulation methods. The facilitators shared real case examples that made the concept tangible. An army pilot who, through VR, got to experience flying again; another individual who had forgotten how to cook but was able to safely relearn and revisit the activity in a virtual setting. These weren't just technical demonstrations; they were glimpses of how technology can help someone hold onto a piece of who they are.

The facilitators were candid that VCST is still in its early stages, currently relying on a mix of VR platforms and simpler tools like Google Meet, depending on what's accessible and feasible for a given individual or setting.

The session closed on a clear note: dementia isn't just a medical diagnosis but a deeply human experience that calls for empathy, dignity, patience, and person-centred care. Grounded in evidence and real examples throughout, participants left with a fuller appreciation for what it takes to support someone living with dementia, and why continued innovation and research in this space matters.