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Category: Living with Dementia

Falls and Dementia: What You Need to Know

Falls and Dementia: What You Need to Know

 As the weather gets colder and the ground freezes over, we all start to feel a little unsteady in our footing. But for people living with dementia, the fear of falling can be more than an occasional thought in the wintertime. November is Fall Prevention Month, and we want to discuss why, for older adults and people living with dementia, falls are an everyday worry. In fact, falls can be dangerous, if not deadly. The concern of falling isn’t one…

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Dementia-friendly lifestyle habits at home

Dementia-friendly lifestyle habits at home

Offering a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for a loved one who is living with dementia is the goal of many caregivers. In addition to some of the physical modifications you can make to your space, here are 5 lifestyle changes that may be help to promote well-being and independence at home: Get support in your community You may have family, friends, or neighbours who can help. Regular visits can both help to reduce social isolation for your loved one,…

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Your dementia-friendly home safety checklist

Your dementia-friendly home safety checklist

What if a simple change to your home could make a huge impact for a loved one who is living with dementia? Caregivers need to look no further than some simple modifications to make their homes more dementia-friendly. Home safety modifications for dementia Here are 5 easy modifications to make your home more dementia-friendly: Lighting matters Adequate lighting is very important for someone who is living with dementia. Here are some quick tips to maximize lighting: Increase wattage, and place…

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Gardening therapy for dementia

Gardening therapy for dementia

For someone who loves gardening, there is nothing like the meticulous, careful work of planning, planting and caring for a garden. The creative and tactile experience of being near to nature is not only good for our well-being, but it may in fact help to relieve the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Living well includes many lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, social contact and more. All of these can improve our cognitive health, no matter our age….

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How MedicAlert® Safely Home® boosts independence for those with dementia

How MedicAlert® Safely Home® boosts independence for those with dementia

Betty and her daughter Eileen have worked side by side at their rural Ontario bakery for 30 years, singing and dancing as they knead dough and glaze cinnamon rolls. When Betty, 81, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease seven years ago, her daughter knew the best treatment for her mom was to keep working. “Like everyone, people with Alzheimer’s want to be productive, and boy do we have that covered,” says Eileen. Her mom cuts granola bars by the hundreds –…

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Father’s Day 2018: What Dan learned from his Dad

Father’s Day 2018: What Dan learned from his Dad

It’s been four years since my dad, Denis, passed away after living with dementia for 11 years. My family and I did everything to make sure Dad enjoyed life, first during the early stages, and later when he lived in a care home. My experiences with my father inspired me to help others learn to appreciate quality time with a family member with dementia.

Brain Awareness Week: Mario’s three keys to living well

Brain Awareness Week: Mario’s three keys to living well

Mario Gregorio resides in British Columbia. He lives with dementia. An advocate for dementia awareness, Mario was one of the faces of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month this past January. I’m celebrating my 70th birthday this year. The best decision I’ve ever made in my life was to seek an early diagnosis. I felt that I needed to take control of my medical situation. And I’m glad I did. An early diagnosis allowed me to research more about dementia. I knew that…

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If you can’t decide, who will decide for you?

If you can’t decide, who will decide for you?

Planning for the future is important for everyone, but it’s especially important if you or someone you care about has dementia. That’s why we’ve partnered with RBC Wealth Management Estate & Trust Services to bring you a series of informative blogs about estate planning. In this blog, Elaine Blades, Senior Manager, Professional Practice Group, RBC Estate & Trust Services, outlines the steps everyone should take to plan for incapacity. By Elaine Blades, Senior Manager, Professional Practice Group, RBC Estate &…

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A journey through dementia: Savouring the gifts

A journey through dementia: Savouring the gifts

by Elaine MacLachlan My mother died of Parkinson’s disease and dementia two weeks before her 88th birthday.  That was over 5 years ago.  It was a long and often difficult journey.  Looking back now, instead of regret and sadness, I choose to remember the gifts she gave me during that time. And, there were many.  Those are the things I cherish. Her health started to decline around the age of 80 when she fell down the stairs fracturing her pelvis….

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Researcher Sarah Wu is doing something about dementia, and starting in the dining room

Researcher Sarah Wu is doing something about dementia, and starting in the dining room

You may already know that there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. While some researchers are diligently looking for effective treatments, others are looking at more social models of care. Many Alzheimer Society Research Program grant recipients are working toward a friendlier future for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. What does relationship-centred care for someone living with Alzheimer’s look like? University of Waterloo doctorate student Sarah Wu is investigating long-term care, and searching for opportunities that may…

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