My mom was diagnosed with young onset dementia shortly after my son was born in 2005. My daughter had just turned two. It was not a surprise as mom had been showing signs, but it was heartbreaking – she was only 62. Despite the disease, my kids were still able to connect with their Nana in many ways. They shared simple activities like colouring, singing, blowing bubbles or picking flowers. In fact, I found that having young children around really…
The Centre for Inclusion and Citizenship at the University of British Columbia, together with a variety of partners, was pleased to host “Claiming Full Citizenship: an international conference on self-determination, personalization and individualized funding”, in Vancouver, BC October 15 – 17, 2015. Fifteen years after the landmark 2000 Seattle Conference on Self Determination and Individualized Funding, the desire for people living with dementia, intellectual, cognitive and physical disabilities to claim full citizenship and seek clarity on what that requires, remains. …
This year the Alzheimer Society celebrates 28 years of funding research through the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP). The peer review panel meetings were held in February 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, and included the role of Community Representatives. Community Representatives are members of the general public who are not currently involved with research who are given the opportunity to comment on the intent, purpose and on the clarity of the language used within the lay summaries of research applications that are received by the Society. Their involvement in peer review serves as a mechanism for public accountability by providing feedback on the ASRP peer review process.
They say growing old is not for sissies, well Alzheimer’s disease is definitely not for sissies. As my lovely mother Anne loves to say, ‘every cloud has a silver lining.’ So I search for the silver lining in my mother’s disease. Sometimes I have to think and look really hard, but I see it. First, some background and mea culpa. I often find myself talking about my mom in the past tense even while she’s with me. “She had a…
On September 17, 2015, Drs. Carole Estabrooks and Howard Feldman convened the 10th Annual Forum of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) on the topic of dementia in Canada. The Academy is a unique Canadian organization that brings together a breadth of expertise and scholarship across a broad view of health, including social scientists, biomedical researchers, health care practitioners, and technology experts. Fora and their follow-up activities often produce important outputs including publications that can serve to inform public…
We are three trainees supported by the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) – Emma is working on her PhD, and David and Jen are both postdoctoral researchers (they’ve finished their PhDs and are continuing on with their research training and careers). Most of the time, this means we are in our labs or offices, working on our research projects. However, this past week, we were fortunate to be among the handful of Canadians selected to take part in the Centre…
The DSDC International Dementia Conference in Birmingham England this year will be a great place to share ideas, and carers and people with dementia are welcome. The Alzheimer Society of Canada’s Mary Schulz is on the programme and we look forward to hearing from friends from around the world. At the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC), we do what we can to help families by providing information about what works and makes a difference. There is a lot that can…
There are many ways you can be a friend to people with dementia in your community, whether it’s in conversation or looking out for someone’s safety. Check out these 5 tips, then visit www.dementiafriends.ca to become a Dementia Friend. 1) Communicate clearly Speak clearly and use short, simple sentences. Be sure not to speak too quickly or raise your voice. Remember that a person with dementia may not understand what you’re doing or remember what you’ve said. Be respectful and…
Just a little over ten years ago, our son Jordan did his high school community service with the Newmarket chapter of the Alzheimer’s Society. Initially, he spent time stuffing envelopes for mail outs. But then he was given the challenge of finding new supporters for the Coffee Break® fundraising campaign. He was asked to target retail. Looking back I recall him telling me and Craig how frustrating it was trying to get support. He called so many retailers to no…
This year the Alzheimer Society celebrates 27 years of funding research through the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP). The peer review panel meetings were held in February 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, and included the role of Community Representatives. Community Representatives are members of the general public who are not currently involved with research who are given the opportunity to comment on the intent, purpose and on the clarity of the language used within the lay summaries of research applications that…