Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA

  Alzheimer’s Care: Building an Effective Organisational Structure Around the Person By Mary Lourdes Bonnici August Alzheimer’s Awareness Series 💜🧠 Throughout August, I am dedicating a special educational series to Alzheimer’s awareness, dementia care, organisational structure, leadership, communication and person-centred support . Alzheimer’s disease does not affect only memory. Its effects can extend into communication, independence, relationships, decision-making and everyday life. Families and carers can also experience significant emotional, practical and social responsibilities. For this reason, effective Alzheimer’s care cannot depend on one individual, one profession or one service. It requires a coordinated organisational structure that places the person living with dementia at its centre. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2026), approximately 57 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2021 , with nearly 10 million new cases occurring each y...

  Tai Chi Walking Based on Your Age: What Is True, What Is Misleading, and What the Science Really Says By Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA Introduction  I recently came across the Facebook advertisement shown above promoting “Tai Chi Walking Based on Your Age.” It presents different exercise routines for people aged 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75+. At first glance, this can look convincing. It suggests that reaching a particular age means we should follow a specific set of Tai Chi movements designed for that number. But is Tai Chi really prescribed according to age in this way? I decided to research the subject more carefully, because Tai Chi itself has genuine evidence-based benefits. However, the way health information is marketed on social media does not always reflect how exercise should actually be personalised. What Is Tai Chi? Tai Chi, also written as taijiquan, developed in China as a martial art and gradually became widely practised as a form of mind-body exercise. It combines: ...

💜 We’re Not Faking Being Sick — We’re Working Hard to Look Well The Hidden Reality of Living With Fibromyalgia By Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA There is a sentence that captures one of the most misunderstood realities of invisible illness: “We’re not faking being sick. We’re working hard to look well.” For many people living with fibromyalgia, those words carry enormous meaning. Someone may be dressed beautifully, smiling, speaking normally, attending an event, meeting friends or simply walking through a shop — and yet their body may be experiencing widespread pain, exhaustion, stiffness, sensory sensitivity or cognitive difficulty at that very moment. The outside appearance tells only a fraction of the story. And this is precisely why fibromyalgia can be so difficult for other people to understand. The Illness You Cannot Always See Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition characterised primarily by widespread pain. It can also involve increased sensitivity to pain, stiffness, fatigue, distur...

  Autism Awareness and Inclusion: Building Understanding, Acceptance and Belonging By Mary Lourdes Bonnici Introduction Autism awareness has grown considerably, yet awareness alone is not enough. Knowing that autism exists does not automatically remove misunderstanding, exclusion or discrimination. Genuine progress begins when awareness develops into acceptance, meaningful inclusion and respect for the dignity of every autistic person. Autistic people do not need society simply to notice them. They need to be heard, valued and given fair opportunities to participate in education, employment and community life. Inclusion means creating environments in which people are not pressured to hide their differences to earn respect or belonging. A truly inclusive society does not ask, “How can this person become more like everyone else?” It asks, “What barriers can we remove so that this person can participate, contribute and thrive?” Understanding Autism Autism, also known as autism spectru...

  Introduction By Mary Lourdes Bonnici Stress is a normal part of life and work. Deadlines, responsibilities, changing priorities and unexpected problems can create pressure, and a certain level of short-term stress may encourage concentration and action. However, when workplace pressure becomes excessive, prolonged or difficult to manage, it can negatively affect mental wellbeing, physical health, relationships and professional performance. Workplace anxiety may develop when individuals experience persistent worry, uncertainty or fear connected with their responsibilities, performance, relationships or working environment. Stress and anxiety are not identical, but they can interact and reinforce one another. The workplace itself can contribute to mental wellbeing or create additional psychological pressure. Factors such as excessive workloads, limited control over work, poor communication, unclear responsibilities, job insecurity, conflict, bullying and insufficient support are re...