In commemoration of the 2025 World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Catholic Church, Adigbe, Abeokuta has organised its special annual programme to celebrate grandparents and elders in the church.
The programme which was held at the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta Bishop’s Court, Onikoko, in the Ogun State capital focused on interactive sessions among participants including;, brain teasers, shading exercise, health check-up and health talk organised in line with this year’s theme, “Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Lost Hope”.
Speaking during the health talk, a lecturer at the School of Psychiatric Nursing, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr. Godspower Onunka said grandparents and the elderly should take regular health check-up seriously and maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent dementia and other diseases associated with old age.
“We should not wait until we fall sick before we go to the hospital. The appropriate thing is for us to regularly go for medical check-up and not wait for the body to break down before appropriate action. Not having regular health check up is responsible for the low life expectancy in the country and people are not living long as they should,” Onunka said.
The Fellow, West African College of Nursing noted that 70 percent of dementia cases were Alzheimer’s disease stating that some of the symptoms of dementia include forgetfulness, getting lost in familiar places and others.
Onunka added that those with the symptoms of dementia should seek medical attention at the Neuropsychiatric hospital stressing that seeking for help over a cognitive challenge, contrary to public misconceptions, is not a taboo.
The resource person added that timely medical attention could help reduce the progression of the disease stating that there was an ongoing research on the disease in more than 13 African countries including Nigeria.
He said elders must eat healthily by prioritising a lot of grains and fruits instead of starchy foods, embrace the use of walking stick when necessary, engage in dancing, maintain good social connections, attend church and social events to avoid loneliness.
The expert also urged old people to engage in reading newspapers and books to help make their brains active, avoid stress and drug abuse as well as desist from over-dependence on their children.
Also speaking, Chairman, Education Committee, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Catholic Church, Adigbe, Abeokuta, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola stated that the Church values elders as critical part of the Church noting that the programme has been consistently organised to expose elders to relevant knowledge which could help them live healthy lifestyles so they could adequately enjoy their old age.
Aikulola who is also the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment urged the elders to embrace regular health check-up while also admonishing young people not to neglect their parents and the elderly at this important stage of their lives.
Responding, two participants at the programme, Dr. Abayomi Oguntoye and Mrs. Josephine Johnson lauded the Church for consistently holding the programme adding that knowledge gained have been beneficial to the well being of elders.
