SINT MAARTEN (ST. JOHN’S ESTATE) - The White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) will mark Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with a week of activities focused on dementia awareness, education, and support for people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers.
As part of the week, WYCCF healthcare professionals will participate in specialized training on person-centered communication and dementia care. Informal caregivers from the community are also invited to attend one free workshop, which is offered twice: on Monday, September 21, and Wednesday, September 23, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at WYCCF.
This workshop will provide practical tools to communicate with confidence, understand challenging behaviors, and respond calmly and compassionately to someone living with dementia. Registration is free through the QR code provided with the workshop information, and you can sign up till 4:00 PM on Monday, September 21.
On Wednesday, September 23, WYCCF will also offer a free dementia screening from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at WYCCF. We encourage community members, particularly older adults and those concerned about changes in memory or thinking, to take advantage of this opportunity.
The screening is intended to promote awareness and early identification; it is not a diagnosis! For those who can’t make it on Wednesday, there’s another option right after the Walkathon on Sunday, at the same location.
The community is further invited to join “Memories in Melodies – Karaoke Evening” on Thursday, September 24, at the new WYCCF Daycare PG Building in St. John’s Estate. The evening starts at 6:45 pm and will include food, drinks, karaoke, presentations, and information about dementia and Alzheimer’s awareness, and is open to everyone.
The week will conclude with the Dementia Awareness Walkathon on Saturday, September 26, from 5:30 AM to 8:30 AM. The Walkathon will start and finish at WYCCF, following a route through L.B. Scott Road, Welgelegen Road, Bush Road, A.T. Illidge Road, Zagersgut Road, and Coralita Road before returning to WYCCF.
All participants will receive a T-shirt and a healthy breakfast, with proceeds from the Walkathon supporting Alzheimer’s awareness initiatives. A small trolley train will accompany the walk for participants who may need a break or are unable to complete the full route on foot. WYCCF is grateful to We Tour BV for sponsoring the train and to Maureen of Captain’s Rib Shack for donating the healthy breakfast.
Tickets cost $ 15 and are still available through WYCCF Dementia Case Managers Michelline Hunte (581-4951), Minerva Maccow (588-1460) and Vaitaire Overman (585-4681).
Dementia care remains an important part of WYCCF’s ongoing work. Through Daycare PG, WYCCF provides specialized care for people living with dementia, giving informal caregivers time to work, manage their responsibilities, or simply take a much-needed break.
WYCCF also organizes Alzheimer’s Support Groups every other month, providing caregivers with information, support, and an opportunity to share their experiences with others who understand.
WYCCF encourages everyone to participate in activities throughout the week and help raise awareness of dementia and its impact on individuals, families, and the wider community.
