The Indonesian Health Ministry has implemented a cognitive stimulation approach for elderly dementia patients who are Hajj pilgrims on their religious journey in Mecca. The initiative comes after cases of possible dementia were seen in Hajj candidates from Indonesia, where elderly pilgrims showed symptoms such as forgetfulness, difficulty learning new things, and difficulty concentrating. As roughly 45 percent of the total 200,000 quotas of prospective pilgrims are in the demographic that is susceptible to dementia, the Hajj health workers have been alerted to provide assistance to patients until they recover and invite them to socialize with colleagues to prevent dementia.
According to M. Imran, the head of health division of the Indonesian Hajj Pilgrimage Organizing Committee (PPIH) based in Saudi Arabia, some cases have been alarming, including an incident where an elderly hajj candidate asked to go home to feed his chicken during a recent flight from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia. There were also cases where older hajj pilgrims from Indonesia still thought they were still in their hometown as they landed in Mecca.
Dementia is a vulnerable condition that needs to be anticipated in organizing the 2023 Hajj. Elderly dementia patients need assistance and proper care from Hajj health workers to recover from this condition. The cognitive stimulation approach encourages patients to socialize with colleagues to prevent dementia and maintain their cognitive health. It is important to take care of the elderly dementia patients who are Hajj pilgrims on their religious journey in Mecca to ensure their safety and well-being.
