Gov establishes dementia action team to increase knowledge and treatment

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Through an Oct. 20 general memorandum, Gov. Lemanu P. S Mauga established the ‘Dementia-Friendly American Samoa Action Team’, chaired by First Lady Ella Mauga, and the membership is made up of representatives from various government and non-profit groups.

“It is estimated that over 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia,” the governor wrote in his memo titled, ‘Dementia-Friendly Movement in American Samoa’. “The number of people affected is set to rise to 139 million by 2050, with the greatest increases in low- and middle-income countries.”

He noted that dementia is a term used to describe different brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, behavior and emotion, and knows no social, economic, or ethnic boundaries.

He said that a new case of dementia arises somewhere in the world every 3 seconds — citing dementia data released by the group, Alzheimer’s Disease International. Furthermore, dementia is more common in people over the age of 65, but in some cases, it can also affect people in their 30s, 40s, or 50s.

While the detailed population tables for the 2020 Census were not yet available (at the time the memo was issued), the governor said that the 2010 Census data shows that over 40% of people in American Samoa fall within that age range — 30 to over 65 years.

“By creating a Dementia-Friendly American Samoa, we will increase the number of people who are more informed, sensitive, engaging, and inclusive using proven strategies and resources available through the Dementia-Friendly America Network,” the governor declared.

“Additionally, an integral part of this work is identifying departments and organizations that represent key cross-sectors across our Territory who will champion this effort,” he said.

The governor then announced the creation of the Dementia-Friendly American Samoa Action Team chaired by the First Lady that will consist of at least one representative from each of the following departments or organizations, specifically those who work with individuals with dementia or who may be at risk of developing dementia:

• Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA), which is the equivalent of an Area Agency on Aging for American Samoa;

• LBJ Medical Center - a Physician Providing Geriatric Care;

• Health Department

• Hope House;

• Agency for Better Living Endeavors (A.B.L.E.);

• Department of Human and Social Services; and

• Nursing Department of the American Samoa Community College — representative of Caregiver's Training.

The governor’s new memo supersedes any conflicting portion of any other General Memorandum or Policy on this subject.