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Category: Living with Dementia

Introducing the 2015 Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) Community Representatives / Des représentants de la collectivité participent au Programme de recherche de la Société Alzheimer (PRSA)

Introducing the 2015 Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) Community Representatives / Des représentants de la collectivité participent au Programme de recherche de la Société Alzheimer (PRSA)

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…

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Nightmares or the Orange Pill

Nightmares or the Orange Pill

I’m tired this morning. The lingering affects of my nightmares stays with me. One of the characteristics of Frontotemporal dementia is sleep disturbances. In addition to this I have been diagnosed with REM sleep behavioural disorder. This “… is a disorder in which you physically act out vivid, often unpleasant dreams with vocal sounds and sudden, often violent arm and leg movements during REM sleep.” Normally you don’t move during REM sleep. About 20 % of your sleep is spent…

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Al Burridge was a true Dementia Champion

Al Burridge was a true Dementia Champion

When the Alzheimer Society of Ontario began the Champions for Dementia initiative in 2010, we were seeking to engage people with lived experience of dementia in advocacy activities with their Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and the Ontario government. I remember receiving notice from the Alzheimer Society of Oxford that they had identified a perfect candidate to be their Dementia Champion – Al Burridge. From day one, Al was a model Dementia Champion. Soon after joining, Ontario had an election….

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The Power of 10 – National Hospice Palliative Care Week 2015

The Power of 10 – National Hospice Palliative Care Week 2015

One of the best ways to spread an important message is through your social circles, your own sphere of influence. National Hospice Palliative Care Week’s official theme for 2015 is The Power of 10: Let’s talk about Hospice Palliative Care.

The essential checklist to take to the bank

The essential checklist to take to the bank

This story first appeared on alzlive.com, a web site devoted to the unpaid family caregivers of those living with dementia. Visiting a bank or other financial office can be challenging. Even in today’s electronic world some financial matters need to be handled in person at the financial institution. Keeping an individual with early or mid-stage Alzheimer’s participating in the management of their money for as long as possible is an important part of ensuring their voice is heard and their dignity…

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Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty

The last few weeks I have been “off.” I have been extremely tired, lack motivation, and am moody. Today, I had another example of how my brain is changing. I was tidying up the bedroom and began to move items in order to dust. I started to pile things on the dresser. I was not being careful but, for some reason, didn’t really care. As I continued, I looked at my South African art ostrich egg that was dangerously positioned…

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I have what? Frontotemporal dementia?

I have what? Frontotemporal dementia?

As I drove us to the 9:00 a.m. meeting with Dr. Didyk a geriatrician, many thoughts ran through my head. Here we go, another appointment with another doctor. One more stupid test. I hate when they ask me to write down the clock time because I know what time it is. I’m looking forward to my Timmy’s coffee. Once Dawn and I arrived at the hospital, we grabbed a coffee and headed off to the waiting room of the gerontology…

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Kim dancing at the 2013 Dine and Dance
Dine and Dance 2014

Dine and Dance 2014

“Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue.” -Plato The Event The annual Dine and Dance is a fun and elegant event hosted by the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. Held at the St. Lawrence Hall, this social event provides a space for people in the early stages of dementia and their family caregivers to dance and enjoy an afternoon together. Amanda Schmukler, Senior Social Worker at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto is…

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New tax credit for safer homes

New tax credit for safer homes

Have you heard about the Government of Ontario’s Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit?

If you are over the age of 65 or live with someone who is senior, you could make your home safer and more accessible and the Ontario government will cover 15% of the costs.

7 Key Elements for Person-centred Dementia Care in Long Term Care Homes: Alzheimer Society PC P.E.A.R.L.S.™

7 Key Elements for Person-centred Dementia Care in Long Term Care Homes: Alzheimer Society PC P.E.A.R.L.S.™

Dementia can be a heartbreaking disease. There is much that troubles and worries us about it. It can seem that one day we are happily living our lives when we get this nagging feeling that something is ‘not quite right’ – with our own ability to manage our day to day lives or that of someone close to us. We worry that if dementia has become part of our lives, it will lead inevitably to a slide toward total dependence, including the need to move to a long-term care (LTC) home.