#HEALTH: Making public spaces dementia-friendly

MegaH Rise Mall and Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) have launched a World Alzheimer's Month 2026 initiative called the Forget Me Not Project. This long-term, phased plan aims to make the mall more dementia-friendly and create a more inclusive environment for those with dementia, their families, and carers. The project combines Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia's expertise in advocacy, education, and community support with MegaH Rise Mall's commitment to inclusive design.

Key measures under the project include dementia-friendly support kits, basic dementia care training for mall staff, and community engagement activities to promote awareness and understanding. Megah Rise Mall's sustainability head, Audrey Lee, emphasizes that dementia-friendly communities are built through numerous practical steps over time, not just one program or event.

The project's hardware and software components involve physical adaptations like signage and facilities, as well as training for mall personnel to recognize and assist those with dementia effectively.

ADFM's executive chairman, Tan Sri Hasmah Abdullah, notes that ADFM has been collaborating with MegaH Rise Mall since April to develop resources such as the Dementia-Friendly Kit and Pathway Guide stickers, along with training for management, front office, customer-facing staff, security, and cleaning personnel. She stresses that creating a dementia-friendly environment goes beyond signage and requires staff understanding that individuals displaying confusion, anxiety, or distress may simply need empathy and support.