Mary* lived independently in a retirement village. She managed her house and enjoyed an active social life. Sarah*, Mary's niece, started to notice that her aunt's behaviour had become peculiar. Mary bought a new red couch when her existing one was still new. Then she decided to buy a power-lift massaging armchair costing R38,000. Mary had never before made such rash purchases. Sarah was perplexed by Mary's decisions, but reasoned that Mary had a right to buy a red couch and an armchair. However, when Sarah found out Mary's pharmacy account was five months in arrears, she knew something was wrong. Mary had always been fastidious about keeping her financial affairs in order. Shortly afterwards, Mary was diagnosed with dementia. Mary is one of an estimated 2-million South Africans living with dementia. The number of such people in Sub-Saharan Africa could swell to 7.62-million by 2050, according to the World Health Organisation, yet no dementia initiatives have been established by any...
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