Of these, around 8.5% of older adults, or roughly 260 000 people in Malaysia, live with this condition that results in memory loss and/or deteriorating communication and cognitive ability.

A dementia diagnosis is not just devastating for those who receive it; loved ones, too, have to witness someone they care about become a shadow of the person they once were.

Nevertheless, it is important that those who live with dementia should not be made to feel like they don’t have a place in society. This is why the BSC Eldercare Centre, based in Penang, has been organising pop-up cafés run by those with the condition, assisted by the organisation’s team and other volunteers.

Held at their premises in Butterworth, the first pop-up event was held on Feb 14, while the second was on May 29.

Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, gerontologist Cecilia Chan said she had come up with the idea owing to the stigma around dementia in Malaysia and its “corrosive” impact. “I felt we needed to do something proactive about it,” she said.

By running a café, they hope to remind the public that those with dementia still possess many capabilities. During the recent pop-up, for instance, these senior citizens were seen taking and serving orders.

“They may not be as quick or have all their cognitive abilities intact like us. But with the appropriate support, they can function. And like us, they also need meaning: there must be a purpose to living, not just existing,” Chan added.

According to the dementia advocate and activist, pearls came to mind while they were trying to come up with a name for their initiative.

“If you look at the shell hiding a pearl, it’s very unattractive. But underneath, there’s a beautiful gem,” she explained. For a Malaysian touch, they opted for the word “mutiara”.

Earlier on May 29, the BSC team and volunteers helped to make simple desserts and beverages to be served to patrons. Themed “Celebrating the gift of our parents”, the event was attended by family members, as well as a diverse group ranging from teens to retirees, artists, those from the medical community, and even exchange students from China.

“There was no segregation between those living with dementia and those who are not. And that was when the magic happened,” Chan said warmly.

The afternoon was filled with fun activities such as singing and dancing, as well as several heartwarming instances. These, Chan said, included a senior citizen usually confined to a wheelchair who stood up to lead the group in a tai-chi session; and another “beaming” as she brewed coffee and tea, as she had previously been in this line of work.

Then there was the dancing couple who were able to reconnect with each other as husband and wife, not as a dementia patient and caregiver.

“These gave us a glimpse of what a society is like when vulnerability is a legitimate, well-supported life experience, and care is valued as central to all life,” Chan noted.

Commenting on the number of dementia cases in Malaysia, she believes many remain undiagnosed because of stigma. “Once a person is labelled as someone with dementia, they are not accepted as a member of the community,” she stressed.

This is why she believes their pop-ups can be a great catalyst for change: “Through these, we want to reclaim their personhood and their right to be part of society just like any one of us.”

And with the team hoping to introduce the initiative to other states, their door is open for others to join hands with them. “Let us continue to reclaim our ‘mutiara’,” Chan concluded.

To find out more about BSC Eldercare Centre, or to collaborate with them, visit their Facebook profile.