Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Law, will open the festival with 10 pairs of persons living with dementia and their family caregivers1, as a ground-up approach recognising the festival built by caregivers for caregivers.
Mr Danny Raven Tan (???), Co-founder, Enable Asia says, “It was very challenging during COVID-19 when we had to be very careful with the people we meet outside of home, for fear of bringing the virus back to my mother who is living with advanced dementia. I had to cut off social interaction in order to protect her, especially when I was down with the virus myself. She unavoidably felt really isolated and down as she could not understand the lack of interaction when I used to see her and massage her every day.”
The festival will be held from 23 September to 16 October 2022, in conjunction with World Alzheimer’s Day (21 September 2022) and spans over to World Mental Health Day (10 October 2022). It emphasises the importance of dementia awareness and caregivers’ mental well-being with a line-up of activities for persons living with dementia, caregivers and the public to engage in. Following the aftermath of the COVID-19 restriction, this is the first time that the festival is taking on a hybrid2 format, with 60% of the programmes online and 40% physically held at National Gallery Singapore. Enabling Festival Artistic Director, Jeremiah Choy, says, “Visitors can expect to be engaged both physically and digitally through experiential art and creative workshops, insightful talks as well as a short film screening that shed light on touching stories in our society.”
In tandem with The Enabling Festival 2022’s theme of touch, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) will be showcasing a video on Namaste Care, a multi-approach care programme that incorporates sensory, psychosocial and spiritual elements to enhance the quality of life for persons living with dementia. The video features practical tips for communicating with persons living with dementia to benefit caregivers and their loved ones.
Mr Noel Cheah, AIC’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, shared, “Caregivers play an important role in supporting the needs of their loved ones, and they are a valuable pillar within the healthcare system. A programme like Namaste Care complements their caregiving efforts by promoting a loving touch approach to carry out meaningful activities. To better equip caregivers with knowledge and skills, AIC will work with our partners to develop more tools and resources. We will continue to look into ways to support caregivers in their journey in line with our vision to enable seniors to live well and age gracefully in the community.”
Ms Suenne Megan Tan, Senior Director, Museum Planning and Audience Engagement, National Gallery Singapore, says, “National Gallery Singapore is delighted to support The Enabling Festival as a Programme Partner as we recognise the proven benefits of art engagement in enhancing the well-being of persons living with dementia and their caregivers. As part of our vision to be an inclusive and accessible space for diverse communities to enjoy meaningful engagement with the arts, the Gallery will be introducing new initiatives including an evidence-based programme to better serve this community.”
“As dementia becomes more prevalent in Singapore, The Enabling Festival will continue to serve as an enablement and empowerment platform to help the public understand how persons living with dementia and their family caregivers perceive dementia, navigate their day-to-day activities, age-in-place and live independently in the community.” said Daniel Lim (???), Co-founder, Enable Asia.
Onwards and towards a dementia-friendly Singapore
Heightened awareness is essential as we strive to look for ways to overcome the challenges family caregivers and persons living with dementia face in the aspects of emotional health, community inclusiveness, job fulfillment, and financial support. It takes a whole village and multiple helping hands approach to achieve a dementia-friendly Singapore.
The Enabling Festival 2022 is an annual event focused on building awareness and facilitating discussions around dementia, as well as providing a channel of support and enablement for persons living with dementia and their caregivers.
The festival is organised by Enable Asia, a Singapore-based social enterprise dedicated to advocacy for persons living with dementia and their family caregivers and supported by The Majurity Trust and the Agency for Integrated Care.
Register for The Enabling Festival 2022 (free entry, registration required): https://enablingfestival.peatix.com/
Check out The Enabling Festival 2022 programme brochure (PDF): https://bit.ly/3xtoatx
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok or refer to our Website for updates.
1 See annex for caregivers’ stories
2 See annex for list of programmes
PROFILES OF ACCOMPANYING GUESTS-OF-HONOUR
PERSONS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS
THE ENABLING FESTIVAL 2022 PROGRAMME SYNOPSIS
Art and Creative Workshops
The Language of Touch by The Glowers
Brought to us by The Glowers, an elderly theatre performing group. Come experience the human emotional psyche about connecting with strangers and your loved ones.
The Gift of Touch by St. Luke’s Hospital
Learn practical tips from specialists from St Luke’s Hospital on how to communicate with your loved ones and create a more conducive environment for daily activities, suitable for persons living with dementia even at the advanced stage.
Venue: Children’s Museum Workshop (Ink Studio) at Keppel Centre for Art Education, National Gallery Singapore
Date: 24 – 25 September 2022 (Saturday – Sunday), 2pm – 5pm | 10-min slot
15 – 16 October 2022 (Saturday – Sunday), 2pm – 5pm | 10-min slot
Registration link:
24 September: https://enablingfestival2022thelanguageoftouch1.peatix.com/
25 September: https://enablingfestival2022thelanguageoftouch2.peatix.com/
15 October: https://enablingfestival2022thelanguageoftouch3.peatix.com/
16 October: https://enablingfestival2022thelanguageoftouch4.peatix.com/
Venue: Facebook Live (The Gift of Touch by St. Luke’s Hospital)
Date: 14 October 2022 (Friday), 8pm – 9pm
Registration link: https://enablingfestival2022touchingmoments6.peatix.com/
Touching Moments Art Therapy Workshops by Red Pencil Singapore & LASALLE College of the Arts
LASALLE College of the Arts and Red Pencil Singapore brings to you two art therapy workshops that feature creative activities and tools for strengthening of cognition, sensory stimulation, mindfulness, and self-identity.
Venue: Wet Workshops 1 & 2 at Keppel Centre for Art Education, National Gallery Singapore
Date: 24 – 25 September 2022 (Saturday – Sunday), 10.30am – 1.30pm daily
Registration link: https://enablingfestivaltouchingmoments1.peatix.com/
Venue: LASALLE College of the Arts at 1 McNally Street (Green Grass Frass)
Date: 7 October 2022 (Friday), 10am – 1pm for public access
Registration link: https://enablingfestival2022touchingmoments4.peatix.com/
Touching Moments Create a Fidget Blanket by Anjali Venkat
Join glass artist Angali Venkat in transforming society’s undesirable waste into works of art that also offer tactile stimulation to persons living with dementia, helping them to maintain fine motor skills, alleviate anxiety and boredom or even reinforce memory.
Venue: Facebook Live
Date: 30 September 2022 (Friday), 8pm – 9pm
Registration link: https://enablingfestivaltouchingmoments2.peatix.com/
Venue: Wet Workshops 1 & 2 at Keppel Centre for Art Education, National Gallery Singapore
Date: 15 – 16 October 2022 (Saturday – Sunday), 10.30am – 12pm
Registration link:
15 October: https://enablingfestival2022touchingmoments7.peatix.com/
16 October: https://enablingfestival2022touchingmoments8.peatix.com/
Touching Moments The Science, Art & Meaning of Touch by Vincent Yong
Get up close and personal with Danspire’s Vincent Yong, Singapore’s only Certified Movement Analyst and Registered Somantic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA), as he teaches the application of movement to experience the touch and emotive nature in human beings.
Venue: Art Playscape (My INK-credible Adventure) at Keppel Centre for Art Education, National Gallery Singapore
Date: 9 October 2022 (Sunday), 10.30am – 12.00pm
Registration link: https://enablingfestival2022touchingmoments5.peatix.com/
Un*Dead Art Exhibition
Enter the artistic realm of Danny Raven Tan, a sole caregiver for his 89 year old mother living with dementia, and find out how art has become an integral part of his caregiving journey.
Venue: SimpleArte Gallery, 15 Lor 8 Toa Payoh #06-01 Braddell Tech, Singapore 319262
Date: 16 September – 31 October 2022 (Friday – Monday) | Free entry
Talks
Little Red Couch (4 episodes)
Find out how four inspiring individuals who are caregivers of family members living with dementia overcome challenges in their daily lives, and for some, the loss of their loved ones.
Venue: Facebook Live
Dates:
23 September 2022 (Friday), 8pm – 8.30pm (Emily Soh)
29 September 2022 (Thursday), 8pm – 8.30pm (Diana Lee | Irene Chan)
6 October 2022 (Thursday), 8pm – 8.30pm (Alison Lim)
13 October (Thursday), 8pm – 8.30pm (William Koh)
Registration link:
23 September: https://enablingfestival2022littleredcouch1.peatix.com/
29 September: https://enablingfestival2022littleredcouch2.peatix.com/
6 October: https://enablingfestival2022littleredcouch3.peatix.com/
13 October: https://enablingfestival2022littleredcouch4.peatix.com/
In-Conversation #1 Know Your Rights by Eden Law
Associate Director Ms Low Seow Ling from Eden Law will touch on sensitive legal topics surrounding professional deputy and donee scheme. Ms Low is one of the registered Professional Deputies and Donees in Singapore.
Venue: Facebook Live
Date: 1 October 2022 (Saturday), 8pm – 9pm
Registration link: https://enablingfestival2022inconversation1.peatix.com/
In-Conversation #2 Night Respite Service by Vanguard Senior Care Centre (Woodlands)
Night Respite Service is a pilot programme in collaboration with AIC. It is a programme which aims to support caregivers of persons living with dementia displaying sundowning behaviour through the provision of short-term overnight respite care.
Venue: Facebook Live
Date: 2 October 2022 (Sunday), 8pm – 9pm
Registration link: https://enablingfestival2022inconversation2.peatix.com/
In-Conversation #3 The Last Touch (Panel Talk)
An intimate and honest panel discussion touching on topics that are taboo and almost morbid to many. Hear from panelists that include a hospital doctor, a caregiver, a funeral director and a family therapist.
Venue: Live on Zoom
Date: 8 October 2022 (Saturday)), 2pm – 4pm
Registration link: https://enablingfestival2022inconversation3.peatix.com/
Short Films
Touching Stories – A Curated Showcase of The Enabling Festival’s Short Films
A screening of specially curated shorts films revolving around dementia, caregiving, hope and resilience. The film screening seeks to celebrate the journey of caregiving.
Venue: YouTube Live
Date: 16 October 2022 (Sunday), 8pm – 9pm
Registration link: https://enablingfestival2022touchingstories.peatix.com/
Hashtag: #EnableAsia #EnablingFestival #dementiaawareness
Enable Asia is a Singaporean Social Enterprise founded by two caregivers to persons living with dementia, who are passionate in educating and raising awareness about the caregiving journey and also to enable those living with dementia. They envision working with an inclusive community to identify problems and co-create solutions through various key initiatives such as The Enabling Festival to achieve their objectives. For more information, visit
The Majurity Trust is a philanthropic organisation that seeks to work with donors and charities to build a thriving and sustainable community for all in Singapore. For more information, visit
The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) aims to create a vibrant care community for people to live well and age gracefully. AIC coordinates and supports efforts in integrating care to achieve the best care outcomes for their clients. They reach out to caregivers and seniors with information on staying active and ageing well, and connect people to services they need. AIC supports stakeholders in their efforts to raise the quality of care, and also work with health and social care partners to provide services for the ageing population. Their work in the community brings care services and information closer to those in need. For more information, please visit
The Dementia-Friendly Singapore (DFSG) is an initiative, led by AIC and in collaboration with community partners, announced by the Ministry of Health in 2016 to address the dementia prevalence in Singapore. DFSG initiative aims to build an inclusive society whereby people know about dementia and mental wellness as well as persons living with dementia and their families feel respected, valued and confident to live well in the community.
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