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National Volunteer Week: Why Louise chooses to volunteer

National Volunteer Week: Why Louise chooses to volunteer

Thanks to my mother, I learned the values of being a volunteer at a young age. She set up a soup kitchen at my elementary school, ensuring that my classmates coming to school without lunch wouldn’t go hungry. When my brother and sister and I joined the Cubs, Brownies, and Girl Guides, my mother volunteered as a leader. She canvassed for various charities. She was always quick to help whenever someone asked.

Meet our Researchers: Debra Sheets, University of Victoria

Meet our Researchers: Debra Sheets, University of Victoria

For people with dementia and their caregivers, it can be difficult to find activities that strike the right balance between being supportive, being socially appropriate and, of course, being fun. As the disease progresses and abilities change, it’s common for friends to withdraw and activities to start to fall away. A person is left with few things that can offer joy, a sense of purpose and human connection. I’ve seen this firsthand—my father had dementia for 18 years. As it…

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Matthew Walks to honour the memory of his beloved Oma

Matthew Walks to honour the memory of his beloved Oma

Matthew Vorstermans and his grandmother had a very special bond. “My Oma lived in Pittsburgh during most of her life and I only saw her about once or twice a year,” Matthew explains. “Despite the distance between us, we maintained a great relationship. We wrote letters to each other and talked on the phone all the time. There was never a time where we’ve held a grudge or anything; we’ve always gotten along.” Matthew was born with Cerebral Palsy, and…

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Introducing the 2016 Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) Community Representatives

Introducing the 2016 Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) Community Representatives

This year the Alzheimer Society celebrates 28 years of funding research through the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP). The peer review panel meetings were held in February 2016 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 are received by the Society. Their involvement in peer review serves as a mechanism for public accountability by providing feedback on the ASRP peer review process.

What I learned caring for Grandma

What I learned caring for Grandma

It is difficult to understand Alzheimer’s disease until you are living with someone who has it. For me it was when my Grandma got it. She had lived with us for my entire life, and played a huge role in my upbringing. First it was the little things, simple tasks that we take for granted, such as preparing a meal. While I could deal with changes like that, the hardest part was accepting that someone who had always protected and…

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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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Henry volunteers to contribute to the community

Henry volunteers to contribute to the community

I’m Henry Duncan and I volunteer with the Alzheimer Society of Oxford. I got involved because I was looking to do volunteer work after retirement and since my mother had Alzheimer’s disease I felt the Alzheimer Society would be the best fit for me. I have been volunteering with the Alzheimer Society for approximately 15 years and although volunteer companion is my main role I also help out with a lot of different tasks. There’s always something that needs doing,…

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Volunteering at the Alzheimer Society Matters!

Volunteering at the Alzheimer Society Matters!

THANK YOU to everyone who volunteers! We made this video to thank all of our incredible volunteers for their generous donation of time and energy. The work we do at the Society could not be done without the help from loyal and supportive volunteers, and for that, we are grateful. Enjoy the video, and for more information about volunteering in Toronto, visit us here.

Stacy volunteers to meet new people

Stacy volunteers to meet new people

I’m Stacy — A.K.A. Super Stacy! —and I volunteer with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. I was born in Toronto and have lived here all my life. I like to keep busy and work hard. I enjoy volunteering with the Alzheimer Society because I support their cause and want to help in any way I can. I have volunteered with the Alzheimer Society since June 2014, coming in once a week to help with various tasks in the office. Everyone…

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Jaclyn volunteers for work experience

Jaclyn volunteers for work experience

My name is Jaclyn Turpin and I volunteer with the Alzheimer Society of Oxford. I am a student at King’s University College studying Family Studies and Thanatology (bereavement and grief). Volunteering with the Alzheimer Society allows me to put my academic knowledge to practice. Additionally, I love working with people and supporting those who experienced loss. I am a support services volunteer. The Alzheimer Society did an amazing job ensuring I had a position that met my interests as well…

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