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Category: Living with Dementia

My mother is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Here’s how getting a diagnosis has empowered us

My mother is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Here’s how getting a diagnosis has empowered us

My mother, Bruna was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in January of 2011. The disease was not unknown to her family. Three of her sisters died of complications resulting from this creeping and subtle sickness, as well as her paternal grandmother. Not long after the second time she had become disoriented while driving and her ever increasing lapses in recall, I decided to take her to visit her doctor. What if she ended up hurting herself, or worse, someone else? I could never forgive myself.

Susan Parish: Champion for Dementia

Susan Parish: Champion for Dementia

As a graduate from nursing at Western, Susan understood the devastating impact of dementia.  Prior to retirement, she worked for ten years in a long-term care home in Lindsay, where many residents had Alzheimer’s disease. It was after retirement that Susan noticed unsettling cognitive changes. During the summer and fall of 2009, Susan began to feel very nervous when driving. Her husband Brian also noticed subtle changes in spelling, numeracy, comprehension, memory and coordination.  After a prompt referral to a…

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How a diagnosis helped my mom

How a diagnosis helped my mom

At first, it was small changes. My mother was losing things and getting on the wrong bus. But then I began to notice more unsettling changes. She wasn’t taking care of herself, slept a lot during the day and was becoming even more confused. I knew something was wrong. I took her to her doctor. We got the always shocking, but ultimately expected news. She had dementia. I felt mixed emotions. But knowing the source of my mother’s difficulties was…

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What is ambiguous loss and grief? / Qu’est-ce que le deuil blanc?

What is ambiguous loss and grief? / Qu’est-ce que le deuil blanc?

If you are living with dementia or supporting someone who is, you may be experiencing a ‘roller coaster’ of emotions. Some days are so good you tend to forget about the dementia altogether. Other days, the smallest thing can send you to tears. Still other days you might feel a nagging sadness that you just can’t shake – even though nothing particularly sad has happened recently.

This ‘roller coaster’ can be related to the ups and downs of feeling grief – yes, a similar kind of grief that we feel when we lose someone dear to us.

Caregiver support for the holidays

Caregiver support for the holidays

“The holidays can be a tough time of year for caregivers. The business of the season, gatherings with friends and family and the fact that many day programs close present challenges. To caregivers, I have some simple advice for you: Plan ahead to help someone with dementia and yourself get the most out of the holidays. Nobody is going to do it for you.” Sharon Rozsel, caregiver for her mother The Alzheimer Society of Ontario knows that for people with…

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Congratulations to Jim Mann, recipient of the 2013 NHCC Changemaker Award!

Congratulations to Jim Mann, recipient of the 2013 NHCC Changemaker Award!

We’re so pleased to congratulate Jim Mann of British Columbia on being honoured with the prestigious Neurological Health Charities of Canada 2013 Change-Maker Award! In 2007, Jim was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease but that never stopped this former government relations consultant from living life to the fullest.