Dancing With Dementia: Fun Walk & Food Fair 2025

GOLDEN SAILS ELDER CARE & WELLNESS, September 14 2025

Golden Sails Eldercare & Wellness in Jelutong, Pulau Pinang, together with Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), successfully co-organized the event known as Fun Walk & Food Fair: Dancing with Dementia. The event carried a main purpose which to spread community awareness about dementia and healthy ageing.

The event started early in the morning with the Fun Walk at 7.00 AM, where participants of all ages came together in a spirit of unity and positivity. The walk reflected the theme “Dancing with Dementia”, symbolizing joy, resilience, and togetherness in the face of challenges. Following the walk, the Food Fair opened at 8.30 AM and continued until 12.00 PM, offering a variety of delicious food that not only delighted visitors but also contributed significantly to the fundraising efforts. It was a vibrant scene of family, friendship, and community engagement.

As part of the event, two booths from AMDI USM were set up to provide community services to the public. The cognitive screening booth, organized by the Dementia Multidisciplinary Research Program (DMR-IPPT), allowed participants to check their memory and cognitive function, encouraging early detection and awareness about dementia. Flyers about dementia also were given to the public.

Meanwhile, the health screening booth, managed by staff from PPUSMB, offered basic health checks including blood pressure, glucose monitoring and health education on breast self-examination. These screenings were conducted inside the specially equipped Medical Couch Bus, which was brought from IPPT, adding a unique and professional touch to the event.

The program was carried out with the involvement of six individuals, comprising three university lecturers, Dr. Ernest Magantig, Dr. Rohayu Hami and Dr. Eva Nabiha Zamri, and three nurses from Pusat Perubatan USM Bertam, Norhaliza bt Abdul Hamid, Mohd Aiman b. Mohd Naim and Nor Samsinar bt Abu Talib. They worked together to ensure the planned activities were implemented as scheduled.

Acknowledgment is also given to Associate Professor Dr. Bakiah Shaharuddin, Director of IPPT, the Engineering Unit consisting of Mohd Faisol b. Ahmad Marzuki, Zambri b. Zainol, Muhamad Naim b. Muhamad Nizam and Musfasyafik b. Musa, as well as colleagues from IPPT, Dr. Syamimi Shamsuddin and Associate Professor Dr. Noor Khairiah A. Karim, for providing technical assistance and support during the program.

Appreciation is also extended to Mr. Kedrick Kok and the Golden Sails Eldercare & Wellness team for hosting the program and facilitating its implementation.

Overall, the Fun Walk & Food Fair: Dancing with Dementia was not only a fundraising event but also an opportunity to bring people together, raise awareness about dementia, and show support for the community. The activities reminded us of the importance of caring for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.