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.
It’s devastating to lose someone while he is still alive. I watched my father deteriorate from Alzheimer’s disease and my mother struggle to care for him. During that difficult time, the Alzheimer Society of Kitchener-Waterloo supported them through its programs and services. That is why I’ve walked for the Alzheimer Society these last eight years. And that’s why I’m doing it again this year. At the Walk, people with the disease, their caregivers, friends and family come together to show…
On Friday, November 15, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and the Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat held a partnership event to help expand the Finding Your Way™ program to seven Alzheimer Societies in Ontario, the Older Adults Centres’ Association of Ontario and the Aphasia Institute. Finding Your Way is a program that offers practical advice on how people with dementia can stay safe while staying active in the community. It provides tips and resources for people living with their dementia, their caregivers…
When I was a community health nurse in the early 80s, I didn’t really appreciate how heavily the formal health system relied on families to care for those with dementia at home. I was told that it was important for families to learn how to provide care; therefore, I taught them how to bathe their relatives, monitor their meds and access community information. Although I feel I was a competent nurse and supported families if they felt unsure or uneasy…
After my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, I decided to do everything in my power to keep him at home as long as possible. Home could help him connect to his past and maintain a sense of who he was. I learned quickly that this decision meant I needed to adapt to the unique interests and abilities of my husband to encourage whatever independent skills he had left while making home a safe place. For example, Reg always enjoyed…
I remember when my grandmother was living with dementia. I was a young girl and I remember my family struggled to care for her because we didn’t know anything about the disease. We thought she was just crazy because she couldn’t remember her sons’ names. Her disease led me to study neuroscience at Queen’s University. I wanted to understand the disease better so that this knowledge could be shared with others, especially caregivers. If people understood dementia better, they could…
On October 24th, I had the privilege of attending “Cafe Conversations: Working Caregivers and Labour Market Challenges” at Hart House at the University of Toronto. The International Federation of Ageing hosted the conference and invited many leaders in the health-policy field, including: David Harvey of Alzheimer Society of Ontario Camille Offridge, CEO of the Toronto-central LIHN; Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Barbara G. Symiest Research Chair in Rehabilitation Technology, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and University of Toronto Dr. Jane Barratt, Secretary General of…
Despite torrential rain, golfers came out ready to brave the elements in support of a worthy cause; a cause that touches 747,000 Canadians, and counting. The 6th Annual Alzheimer Golf Tournament at Bigwin Island proved a huge success, raising over $110,000 for the Alzheimer Society Research Program.
A Thanksgiving greeting from the Alzheimer Society
I love having the family over for Thanksgiving. It’s a treat to catch up and exchange stories. But I’m also a caregiver and those duties can never be ignored. My mother has Alzheimer’s disease and lives at home with me. Including a person with dementia in a social gathering can be challenging, but also rewarding. Although my mother enjoys socializing, she isn’t the only one who has difficulty communicating with others. Sometimes friends and family feel uncertain of what to…