Are you struggling to figure out your next steps? Our First Link® Client Support team is here to listen and help guide you through difficult times – from when you are concerned about your own, or a family member or friend’s memory, right through to the later symptoms of dementia. Call us today at 204-943-6622/1-800-378-6622 or fill out our online form and we will reach out to you.
Our Holiday Matching campaign is BACK!
During the month of December, the first $35,000 donated will be doubled, so your donation will go even further to help families affected by dementia.
This means $10 turns into $20, $100 turns into $200, and $500 turns into $1,000!
Your gift will help families like Ken and Brenda Krulicki’s.
After Ken’s wife Brenda was diagnosed with young onset dementia, he and his family realized he needed guidance. Through the First Link® Client Support program, Ken was connected to the Alzheimer Society where he was met with a community of support.
Watch their video below and consider donating today. You can make a difference for more families in Manitoba experiencing dementia.
Call for Minds in Motion® Volunteers!
Volunteering with the Minds in Motion program is a great way to get out into the community and help support those living with dementia and their care partners in a fun, dementia-friendly space.
Our volunteers are an integral part of the program, from helping set up the space for participants to delivering and participating in programming and making meaningful connections with people living with mild to moderate signs of dementia and their care partners.
Ideally, we ask for a 1-year commitment from volunteers, to help throughout the fall, winter, and spring sessions. Volunteers commit 3-hours once a week for the 8-week program, three times in the year.
We’re looking for volunteers for a variety of program locations, but we are in the most need of volunteers at the following locations:
- Rady JCC
- Wellness Institute
- St James Civic Centre
- Brandon
- Portage La Prairie
- Carman
For more information or to request a volunteer application form, contact Nicole McDonald at nmcdonald@alzheimer.mb.ca.
Dementia & the Holidays
The holidays can be an enjoyable time for many people, but they can also bring feelings of stress, disappointment or sadness for many, including families living with dementia.
Someone living with dementia may feel lost or confused during the bustle of the holidays or they may feel a special sense of loss because of the changes they have experienced. For care partners, trying to maintain holiday traditions can add extra pressure on top of the caregiving responsibilities you already have – causing an increase in stress or overwhelm.
This holiday season, we want to remind you to give yourself permission to do only what you can reasonably manage. This could mean simplifying celebrations, like having smaller or more casual social gatherings or cutting down on a few holiday tasks, like baking, shopping or decorating. Make a decision to enjoy the festivities without succumbing to the obligations and expectations that can come with the holiday season.
Feelings of grief or loss can also arise over the holidays, including a sense of sadness when you’ve decided to let go of certain traditions, especially if it means less time with family or friends. Care partners may also experience ambiguous loss – a type of loss you feel when a person living with dementia is physically there but may not be mentally or emotionally present in the same way they were before.
Recognizing the complexity of your feelings and talking about them with others is a step in the right direction. It is sometimes difficult for others to understand what you are going through because they aren’t knee-deep in the situation like you are. It might help to call the Society and speak with someone on our First Link® Client Support team – they will understand at a level that others may not. They can help you work through the tough emotions you may experience this holiday season and throughout the year.
We also have support groups available for people living with dementia and for care partners. These are safe spaces where you can share openly with others who are experiencing similar situations. Relating to others who are going through the same thing can help you feel like you’re not alone. They can help guide you with ideas of how they are handling these situations and in turn, you can do the same for them.
Speaking with our staff through one-on-one counselling sessions or joining one of our support groups are acts of self-care – and they can help you build coping strategies and feel supported as a care partner.
However you celebrate this year, and whatever feelings come up for you throughout the season, taking care of your own well-being is important and the Society is here to support you.
You are not alone this holiday season. For more information or support, connect with us by calling 204-943-6622 (Winnipeg) or 1-800-378-6699 (toll-free in Manitoba) or emailing alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca.
Alzheimer Society of Manitoba holiday hours:
Our offices will be closed on the following days:
- Monday, December 25, 2023
- Tuesday, December 26, 2023
- Monday, January 1, 2024
Other Manitoba-wide crisis & support lines you can access over the holidays:
Provincial Crisis Support Lines and Services
Crisis Support – Klinic Community Health
Winter 2024 Community Partner Programs – Register Today!
The Alzheimer Society partners with community organizations to create programs designed especially for people living with early to moderate symptoms of dementia to attend with their family members, friends or care partners. You can now register for some Winter 2024 community partner programs!
Check out the current lineup of Winter programming:
Tales Along the Trail (FortWhyte Alive)
Tales Along the Trail is for people living with dementia and their care partners who are looking for a safe but exciting way to encounter the natural world. An experienced naturalist will guide the group along FortWhyte’s gentle pathways, pointing out all fall has to offer and encouraging everyone to use their senses to explore.
Each session will include a relaxing walk through the woods, with stops focusing on all of our senses. Participants will then have a chance to share thoughts, stories, and a snack around a crackling fire or cozy indoor space. In stormy weather, we bring nature indoors.
Winter Program (8 weeks)
Wednesdays, 2 – 3:30 pm
January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 6, 13, 2024
Cost: $110 + GST/couple
Registration opens on December 18
Register today by contacting bmiller@fortwhyte.org for a link to register for this program.
The Living Well Program (The Leaf)
The Living Well Program enables you to reap the social and well-being benefits of engaging with plants with the guidance of a practitioner of horticulture therapy.
We cultivate a dementia-friendly community with sensory plant-based activities and guided explorations of The Leaf and outdoor gardens when the weather permits. Every session includes refreshments.
Winter Program (6 weeks)
Tuesdays, 2:30 – 4 pm
January 23, 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, 2024
Tannis Richardson Indoor Classroom at The Leaf, 145 Locomotive Dr., Winnipeg
Cost: $110 + GST/couple
Register now on the Assiniboine Park Conservancy website, under “Recreation and Leisure”.
Now and Then: A Journey in Time (Manitoba Museum)
Now and Then: A Journey in Time is a program that encourages you to explore the Manitoba Museum’s many collections.
During four lively sessions led by a Museum Learning Facilitator, participants will explore old memories and create new ones through objects, activities and stimulating discussions. Each session highlights one of the Museum’s distinct galleries, from the animals of the Arctic to the far reaches of ancient Egypt and many more.
Participants are welcome to explore the Museum Galleries before or after the program.
Winter Program (4 weeks)
Fridays, 2 – 3:30 pm
February 23, March 1, 8, 15, 2024
Manitoba Museum, 190 Rupert Ave.
Cost: $110 + GST/couple
Registration opens on December 15
Vivace Voices Choir
Come and join in making music together! Singing in a choir is a challenging and joyful experience. Learn to sing new and familiar music while making connections with those around you. No prior choral experience is required.
Winter 2024 Program (10 weeks)
Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2024
Canadian Mennonite University, 500 Shaftesbury Blvd.
Cost: $145/pair
Learn more and register now on the CMU website!
Register for Minds in Motion® Winter Sessions
Keep socially and physically active this winter with Minds in Motion®!
Our popular Minds in Motion® program connects people living with early to moderate signs of dementia and their care partners through fitness, fun and friendship. Participants take part in a gentle chair fitness class followed by socially engaging activity and conversation. There are lots of laughs and social interaction during these sessions.
See below for all current Winter session dates, times and registration information, or visit alzheimer.mb.ca/mindsinmotion.
Winnipeg Locations
Elmwood-Kildonan YMCA – 454 Kimberly Avenue
Thursdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Jan 25 – Mar 14
Registration Date: Dec 18, 2023
Registration Phone Number: 204-668-8140
Faith Lutheran Church – 1311 Dakota St.
Thursdays, 10 am – 12 pm
Jan 25 – Mar 14
Register Now!
Rady JCC Fitness Centre – 123 Doncaster St.
Wednesdays, 10 am – 12 pm
Jan 24 – Mar 13
Call to register: 204-477-7510
Riverwood Square – 1778 Pembina Hwy.
Tuesdays, 10 am – 12 pm
Jan 23 – Mar 12
Call to register: 204-275-7632
The Wellness Institute – 1075 Leila Ave.
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Jan 24 – Mar 13
Call to register: 204-632-3900
West Portage Y – YMCA 3550 Portage Avenue
Tuesdays, 1 – 3 pm
Jan 23 -Mar 12
Registration date: Dec 18, 2023
Registration Phone Number: 204-889-8052
Regional Locations
ALTONA
The Gardens on Tenth – 140 10 Ave. NE
Mondays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Jan 8 – Mar 8
Call to register: 1-204-324-8945
BRANDON
Seniors for Seniors – 311 Park Ave. East
Thursdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
SESSION #1 – Nov 9, 16, 23, 30, Dec 7, 14, Jan 11, 18
SESSION #2 – Jan 25 – Mar 14
Call to register: 1-204-571-2050
CARMAN
Carman Active Living Centre – 47 Ed Belfour Dr.
Fridays, 1 – 3 pm
Jan 12 – Mar 8
NO SESSION ON JAN 26
Call Linda to register: 1-204-745-2356 or email carmanalc@gmail.com
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE
Herman Prior Centre – 40 Royal Rd. North
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Jan 24 – Mar 13
Call to register: 1-204-857-6951
Support Groups – You Are Not Alone
Are you a person living with dementia looking for coping strategies or wanting to hear from others who are also experiencing memory loss? Or are you a care partner looking for suggestions on how to respond to changing behaviours, repetitive questions, navigating transitions or coping with feelings of loss or guilt?
The Alzheimer Society’s support groups are spaces where you can share complex feelings, gain practical and helpful tips from people going through similar situations and connect to a community of people who understand where you’re at and how you’re feeling.
Ken Krulicki (highlighted in the video above) found reassurance and guidance through his care partner support group after struggling with his wife Brenda’s diagnosis. Ken says he was hesitant to join a support group at first, but after going to just one session, he realized this was a community of people who understood what it was like to care for a spouse living with dementia. Attending this group made him feel like he wasn’t alone. “You look around and say, ‘Oh, you’ve got the same problem as I do.’”
Ken attends the Gimli care partner support group and feels they have become like a family to him. The other care partners are always there to listen and support one another through mutual understanding. “It’s such a safe place to share,” he says.
When you join a support group, you join a community of people you can lean on for guidance, encouragement and understanding. We offer support groups for people living with dementia and for care partners both in-person and virtually.
Call us at 204-943-6622/1-800-378-6622 or email alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca and we can help you find the best support group to meet your needs.
For a complete listing of support groups, visit the links below:
Support Groups for Care Partners
Support Groups for People Living with Dementia
Our Winter Education Calendar is Here
You can now register for our Winter education sessions! Come join us to learn about a variety of topics including accessing community resources, life in long-term care, complex legal situations and more. These sessions are free to attend and offered both in-person and via Zoom.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Communication & Empathy – Sponsored by Johnston Group and Payworks
Join Speech Language Pathologist, Kelly Tye Vallis in a discussion about communication changes that may arise throughout the dementia journey. People living with dementia may experience difficulty expressing themselves in conversation, finding the right words, understanding spoken language, repetition, losing their train of thought, and engaging in conversation in the same ways they once did. As these changes can be hard for everyone, Kelly will provide tips when assisting someone experiencing communication changes and provide additional resources.
Wednesday, December 13 | 10 – 11 am | Virtual via Zoom or in-person at Winakwa Community Club (980 Winakwa Rd, Winnipeg)
Click here to register
Care Partner Burnout & Stress
Providing care to someone living with dementia may take a toll on your physical and emotional health. When considering how to best meet the needs of a person living with dementia, it is also important to think about the impact that caregiving is having on your own well-being. Join Jamie L. Penner (RN, PhD(c), Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences) for a discussion about practical strategies to reduce feelings of burnout and stress.
Monday, December 18 | 2 – 3 pm | Virtual via Zoom
Click here to register
Visit the link below for more details on our winter education sessions and to register.
Winter 2024 Family Education Calendar
Family Education – Upcoming Seminars
Family Education: Next Steps Sponsored by:
Dementia Care Professional Development Series: The Complex World of Dementia Care
Join us for our Dementia Care 2023-2024 Professional Development Series! Sessions are geared towards health care staff and community service providers and take place online monthly (plus one in-person) until March 2024.
Our next session titled, Link Between Dementia and Mental Illness takes place on Thursday, December 14 from 2 – 3 pm. Dementia can affect people with mental illness, requiring care partners to understand the unique challenges involved. This session covers:
- how pre-existing mental illness increases the risk of dementia
- how to differentiate and recognize overlapping symptoms and behaviours
- how pre-existing mental illness can affect activities of daily living and the relationships of people living with dementia
- treatment options and strategies for day-to-day care
For only $30, you get access to all virtual sessions PLUS the option to register for in-person workshops! (Additional $5 charge for in-person sessions.)
We encourage anyone working with people living with dementia in the community, hospitals or personal care homes to register. These sessions add up to 30 completed hours of education that may be used towards professional development or continuing education hours.
Visit the Dementia Care website to learn more about all the sessions, speakers and to register now!
This event is sponsored by:
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Remember. You Are Not Alone.
We are here to help you and your family no matter where you are in your dementia journey. You can reach a comforting ear by phone or get a quick response by email. Call us at 204-943-6622 (Wpg), 1-800-378-6699 (MB) or email alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca