Why do I volunteer? I took on this volunteer position to learn and expand my skills. This position allows me to do that and make a difference in the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers. It’s great to know my work has a purpose. What is my background? I am employed with an adult day program for people with dementia. I have also volunteered with the Alzheimer Society in other cities, such as with their Volunteer Companion Program…
Awhile ago someone said to me, “Tim you’re a true Champion for the Alzheimer’s community.” In truth, I am merely the voice for my wife Shirley. After many years as a caregiver herself, she now faces Alzheimer’s disease. She is the real champion and this is her story, not mine. In 2005, I first noticed my 61 year-old wife Shirley was struggling with a volunteer position as a treasurer for a small ladies group. She had always handled our personal…
Why do I volunteer? I volunteer with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario because I want to contribute to the strength of the education and services that the Society provides for Ontarians with dementia and their caregivers. The rise of dementia in our community, its economic impact and its impact on quality of life is a major health care issue. Like many Ontarians, the impact of dementia has affected my family. What is my background? As a clinical researcher of cognitive…
This year, for the very first time, the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) invited Community Representatives to participate in the peer review process. Community Representatives are members of the general public who are not currently involved with research. They comment on the intent, purpose and on the clarity of the language used within the lay summaries of the research applications. Their involvement in peer review serves as a mechanism for public accountability by providing feedback on the ASRP peer review process.
“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…
Often times when our families and friends begin to need elder care supports, services and information about dementia, we don’t know where to begin looking for help. By the time we know we need help, we are in knee-deep in the crisis, having to make life changing decisions without enough information. It is a frightening and exhausting time for individuals, their families and care partners. Three years ago the week before Christmas, my frightened and delirious 82-year-old mother arrived –…
It’s never too soon, or too late to make changes that will maintain or improve your brain health, changes that may also help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Train your brain. Keeping your body active makes you strong – same thing goes for your brain. Try new things. Challenge your mind with games, puzzles and crosswords. Visit a museum, take a class, play an instrument. Think, connect and engage. Stay in touch. Social interaction appears…
Brain function has always fascinated me because it’s very complicated. It’s not black and white, and so many things contribute to how you think and how you behave. That interconnection means mental health ties into your physical health, and vice versa. Because I’ve always been an analytical person, I like the challenge of figuring out those connections. Especially when the payoff is a better quality of life. As we all know, Alzheimer’s disease can affect quality of life so dramatically….
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.
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.