We hope this newsletter finds you well. During this time, our phone lines remain open. If you need to reach our counselling staff, or have questions about programs and services, please call 519-271-1910.
We also invite you to keep checking the online calendar to learn about upcoming online events and programs. You will also be able to catch up on any newsletters you may have missed.
Happy reading!
In this edition:
What’s happening in Perth County? Local, social recreation programs, webinars, and more!
Thank you for making kind-nections with us!
Lisa shares her connection to the Alzheimer Society
BrainsCAN survey shows Alzheimer Society support leads to $1.3B in health-care savings
February is Black History Month
Send a little love this Valentine’s Day!
Tax Season is Upon Us! Are You Prepared?
What's happening in Perth County? Local, social recreation programs, webinars, and more!
We need your help!
We provide programs and services to help improve the quality of life of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. To continue to provide these services in a way that is helpful, the Alzheimer Society of Perth County wants to understand how our programs and services are impacting people living with dementia and their care partners.
This survey was developed with BrainsCAN, a neuroscience research initiative located at Western University, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society. The survey should take 10-15 minutes to complete. To complete the survey, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 519-271-1910 or 1-888-797-1882.
Caregiver Support Groups
Caregiver support groups are an opportunity to connect with other caregivers, enhance your understanding of dementia, and develop practical strategies for supporting a person living with dementia. All caregivers who are registered clients are welcome to attend. Registration is required by contacting the group facilitator as noted below. If you have any questions about attending a Caregiver Support Group, please contact the group facilitator or your assigned First Link Counsellor at 519-271-1910 or 1-888-797-1882.
At this time, all groups remain virtual. We will be moving toward in-person groups when Huron Perth Public Health guidelines permit.
Join us for this ongoing education program, suitable for care partners and people living with a dementia diagnosis. For one hour at a time, we will explore different topics of interest in-depth.
Please pre-register for each session individually by clicking the links below:
Date: Thursday, February 10th from 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Topic: Finding Your Way - Keeping Safe when Out and About
Note: Due to recent changes in guidelines from the Huron Perth Public Health, all education will be offered virtually at this time. Those programs that require in-person facilitation (i.e., Taking Control of Our Lives) will be offered as soon as guidelines permit.
U-FIRST for Care Partners education program supports Care Partners who are caring for someone experiencing behaviour changes caused by dementia. The goal of this program is to reduce behaviour changes using the U-First framework, enhance your well-being and the wellbeing of the person who is experiencing behaviour changes, and improve collaboration among all team members. The program will be offered virtually over 6 - 90-minute sessions.
At this time, all groups remain virtual. We will be moving toward in-person groups when Huron Perth Public Health guidelines permit.
Dates and Time: Thursday, January 20, 27; February 3, 10, 17 & 24 from 6:30-8:00 pm
First Link Learning Series: Care in the Later Stages
This four-week program is designed for Care Partners who are supporting a loved one who is living with later-stage dementia. These 2-hour sessions focus on dementia in the late and end of life stages and the role Care Partners can play in caring for and enhancing quality of life. The program will be offered virtually over four weeks.
Dates and Time: Monday, January 24, 31; February 7 & 14 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Taking Control of Our Lives - for those experiencing early stages of cognitive change related to dementia and a family member or friend.
Learning the Ropes for Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment - for those experiencing Short Term Memory Impairment or other cognitive change related to MCI and a family member or friend.
Please connect with your First Link Counsellor or Christy to be added to a list of those interested. You will be contacted when dates and times are determined.
Winter Book Club
Are you a caregiver or community member interested in learning more about dementia in a more casual form of learning? Consider joining our Winter Book Club. We will be diving into Lisa Genova’s book “Still Alice”. We will meet virtually over 5 sessions from mid-January through March to discuss and share insights and reactions to this New York Times bestseller.
Dates and Time: Tuesday, January 25; February 8 & 22; March 8 & 22 from 12:00 - 1:00pm
The Alzheimer Society of Perth County Virtual Social Recreation page continues to be updated regularly. Please click here to check out the latest updates!
Virtual Paint Party
Staying active and socialization are two vital parts of aging well. The Alzheimer Society of Perth County in partnership with Vanessa at Kind-Hearted Studio has created a Virtual Paint Party, a program for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their care partners. The program encourages participants to be creative and social. This program runs for 1.5 hours virtually through Zoom. Materials required to participate in this program will be delivered to the homes of registered clients prior to program start. Advanced registration is required by calling Pamela at 519-271-1910 at ext. 27 or pbalfour@alzheimerperthcounty.com. Limited spaces are available for Tuesday, February 16 from 10:30-12:00 pm.
Minds in Motion
At this time, all sessions will provided in a virtual format. We will be moving toward in-person groups as soon as Huron Perth Public Health guidelines permit.
This program incorporates physical activity and mental stimulation for people with early to mid-stages of dementia and their care partners. Each session offers gentle and easy to follow physical activities led by a certified senior fitness instructor and engaging social activities focused on building personal skills. Advanced registration is required for in person Minds in Motion by calling Pamela at 519-271-1910 ext. 27 or pbalfour@alzheimerperthcounty.com.
In Person:
Stratford - Tuesday, January 11 - March 1 from 10:30am - 12:30pm
St. Marys - Thursday, January 13 - March 3 from 1:00 - 3:00pm
Virtual:
Monday, January 10 - March 7 (no program on Feb 21) from 2:00 - 3:30pm
Thank you for making kind-nections with us!
Our first-ever Quest for Kindness was a huge success and we have YOU to thank!
Together, thousands of kind-nections were made across Canada, and thanks to the support of Healthing, we were able to stay connected virtually and see our communities light up the Kind-nections Map one act at a time!
Every dollar that was raised is going to make an immediate impact in your community by allowing people living with dementia, their care partners, and their families access the education, counselling, and social recreation programs they need most.
Thank you for choosing kindness for over 500,000 people living with dementia in Canada—a number that will continue to rise.
Thank you again, from the bottom of our hearts. We look forward to seeing you again at next year’s Quest for Kindness!
Lisa shares her connection to the Alzheimer Society
WRITTEN BY LISA MACHADO
There’s never a time when losing a loved one is easy. But over more than a decade that my dad lived with dementia, the sense of grief was uniquely devastating. Watching someone you love slowly disappear intellectually — their memory, their smile, their voice — while their physical being remains is a most exquisitely painful mourning process. It was the longest goodbye — and it took a huge toll on our family.
For my mom especially, who was my dad’s primary caregiver, it was the connections with others who shared our experience with dementia that helped her to not only keep her life moving forward during a very difficult time, but this support also guided us in navigating the long-term care system so that my dad, and others like him, could get better care. These connections also helped us to advocate for improved health policy around the treatments for brain diseases and raise awareness of the importance of dignity and humanity for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their families.
This is the mission of Healthing — connecting Canadians to the information, resources, and people they need to navigate the difficult health issues they and their families are facing, while inspiring the need to advocate for a better healthcare.
Check us out at healthing.ca, I’d love to hear what you think. And if you have a story you think we should be telling, we’d love to know about it.
BrainsCAN survey shows Alzheimer Society support leads to $1.3B in health-care savings
A new survey report from Western University’s BrainsCAN, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, found programs and services provided by the province’s 27 Societies deliver savings of $1.3 billion for Ontario’s health-care system.
To access the full report and to hear Deb and Bruce’s story, click here.
February is Black History Month
Based on information collected from the US & UK, did you know that dementia impacts Black communities at higher rates with some studies showing they are two times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia?
This Black History Month, we honour all Black Canadians and those who may be living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. To learn more about the work we’re doing in regards to race and dementia in Canada, please visit our webpage here.
Send a little love this Valentine's Day!
Celebrate Valentine's Day by sending a heart to residents of long-term care homes in your community! 💕💖💘
Send a little love with our printable Valentine's Day cards and add in your own personalized message to show them how much you care.
It’s that time of year again—tax season. Whether you love it or hate it, the best thing to do is be prepared—especially if you’re a caregiver living in Ontario! You may even be eligible to receive tax credits.
Not sure what information you’ll need? Check out our blog series on everything a caregiver should know before doing their taxes!
People living with Alzheimer’s and dementia are especially vulnerable at this time, if you are able to, please consider supporting the essential services and programs that benefit this community.
