March 2025 eNewsletter

In This Issue:

Brain Awareness Week 2025

Take Action for a Healthy Brain

The Alzheimer Society is encouraging everyone to participate in Brain Awareness Week from March 10 to 16. Keeping your brain healthy helps to reduce your risk of developing dementia, and for those living with dementia, taking action toward your brain health can help slow the progression of the disease.

Over the week, we’ll be sharing information on small efforts you can make to keep your brain healthy, such as:

• Staying socially active
• Making healthy food choices
• Reducing stress
• And more!

Follow along on our Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn throughout the week to learn how the Society can help you find everyday ways to improve your brain health! You’ll find information on programs to help you stay active and resources to help you maintain a healthy brain. 

Visit our Brain Health page for even more tips.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Women, Brain Health & Dementia

Saturday, March 8 is International Women’s Day – a time to celebrate and honour all women. When it comes to brain health and dementia, it’s important to know how women are uniquely affected and how gender can impact dementia risk.

By 2050, it is estimated that over 1.7 million Canadians will have dementia – and roughly 60% of them will be women. The higher rate of women developing dementia is not just because women tend to live longer. Stress, reproductive history and a decline in estrogen brought about by menopause may all play a role in the onset of dementia.

We know that gender can impact:

• risk factors for developing dementia
• how symptoms are exhibited
• dementia care needs and caregiving responsibilities

We also know that:

• dementia in women tends to progress faster
• women may present depression as a symptom of dementia more than men
• brain health research subjects have typically been men, so it’s unclear whether current therapies and treatments are as effective for women

Although gender is a dementia risk factor we cannot control, there are many other things we can do to help protect our brains – including learning more about the unique ways cognitive changes and dementia can affect us based on our genders. Explore the resources below to learn more.

• Video: A discussion on women, brain health and dementia | Alzheimer Society of Canada
• womensbrainhealth.org
• What women should know about menopause and brain fog – Prof. Pauline Maki | YouTube
• Sex, Gender and Dementia: Findings from the Landmark Study Report #2
  • This printable, three-page infographic features data and research from the Landmark Study Report #2, The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada, released in January 2024.

Our First Link® Client Support team is here to provide you with inclusive support that fits your unique needs. If you have questions about dementia or risk reduction, connect with us anytime by calling 204-943-6622 (Winnipeg) / 1-800-378-6622 (Manitoba) or emailing alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Help Us Improve Our eNewsletter

Your feedback matters! We want to provide you with relevant, useful information about dementia. Please help us improve our monthly eNewsletter by filling out our survey – it will only take a few minutes of your time.

Click here to take the survey.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s 2025

Who Are You Walking For?

Get ready – our annual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s is just around the corner!

Join us across the province this May and June as we walk for those living with dementia and their families in Manitoba. It’s more than just a Walk – it’s a chance to connect, support each other and have a little fun along the way.

Registration opens April 2025!

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Healthy Diet, Healthy Brain: National Nutrition Month

There’s no better time than National Nutrition Month to talk about healthy eating and its impact on our brains! What we eat plays an important role in our long-term health, including brain health.

Studies have shown that diets like the Mediterranean or MIND diets, which focus on whole foods like fruits, vegetables and healthy fats, can help protect your brain. These diets have been linked to lower risks of dementia by promoting heart health, reducing inflammation and providing the essential nutrients your brain needs to function at its best.

Your diet impacts your brain in several ways:

• Reduces inflammation: Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants, which combat inflammation in the brain. This can lower the risk of cognitive decline as you age.
• Supports cognitive function: Healthy fats like those in olive oil, nuts, and avocados improve blood flow to the brain, supporting memory, focus, and overall cognition.

Eating well can be simple – and delicious! Here’s a taste of what experts recommend:

	Count colours, not calories! Bright fruits and vegetables, like blueberries, broccoli or bell peppers, are rich in nutrients that protect the brain.
	Healthy fats are important for a happy brain. Nutrient-dense foods like olive oil, nuts and avocados support cognitive function and improve blood flow to the brain. Research shows these foods are particularly valuable for brain health, helping to lower risks associated with aging.
	Limit processed foods and sugars. Too much sodium or sugar can impact blood pressure and blood sugar levels, which can increase the risk of dementia. Limiting foods high in added sugar and salt can make all the difference.

Explore these food guides below to help get you started in building a brain-healthy diet:

• Canada’s Food Guide – Provides tips on portion sizes, meal planning, and healthy eating habits.
• Brain health food guide – An evidence-based guide from Baycrest, focusing on foods to support aging brains.

Visit our Making Healthy Food Choices page to learn more about nutrition and brain health.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

How Our Bereavement Support Group Can Help

Nothing can replace the understanding and validation that comes from a group of people experiencing similar circumstances. ‘I’ve been there, I hear you,’ means so much more coming from someone who is going through it themselves.

Our Bereavement Support Group helps care partners work through the intricate and confusing feelings that come when someone living with dementia passes away. This group provides a safe space led by facilitators who have the knowledge and expertise needed to understand the complications dementia brings to the grieving process.

Dealing with loss after dementia comes with unique challenges. There’s an idea that the anticipatory grief that comes with dementia somehow prepares a care partner to navigate the death of the person more easily, but this isn’t true.

“A loss is a loss,” says Thomas Steur, First Link® Client Support Coordinator. “Your experience is valid and what you are going through is yours and yours alone. There is no time frame or specific stages you have to go through to heal.”

Feelings of relief may come after a passing, as well as feelings of loneliness or guilt. Some care partners may question the decisions they made while caregiving or wonder whether or not they provided enough support.

“It can feel like the rug is pulled right out from under you,” describes Thomas. “We want people to know they are not alone and whatever they go through next, we continue to be there for them.”

Join us for our next bereavement support group, beginning this April:

Selkirk
Wednesdays, April 2nd – May 21st
1 – 2:30 pm
Woodland Courts Boardroom
387 Annie St (South Building Entrance), Selkirk, MB
Contact Samantha Holland at alzne@alzheimer.mb.ca or 204-268-4752 to register for this group or for more information.

For a complete listing of support groups, visit the links below:

Support Groups for People Living with Dementia

Support Groups for Care Partners

We welcome everyone to this inclusive environment for people of different ethnicities, cultures or persons who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Check Out Our Spring Education Sessions

Join us this spring and learn about a variety of topics, including conversations about driving, palliative care and dementia, the emotional impact of caregiving, financial confidence and more. These sessions are free to attend and offered via Zoom.

Click here to register for all Family Education sessions.

Here’s what’s coming up next:

Living with Dementia First Steps – Part 3
*Please note you do not need to attend the Living with Dementia series in order.
The third session of a three-part information series for people supporting someone recently diagnosed with dementia. Learn from health and industry professionals as they discuss the disease progression and provide information on services and resources available. This webinar includes an overview of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) Home Care Services.
Saturday, March 8 | 10 – 11:15 am

Conversations about Driving
Are you concerned about your family member/friend who lives with dementia and is driving? Become informed about how dementia can impact driving and learn what’s involved in a medical assessment by the Driver Fitness Department. Presented by representatives from Manitoba Public Insurance.
Tuesday, March 18 | 2 – 3 pm

You can choose to watch these online sessions in-person at the Alzheimer Society office (10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg) – the speaker will not be presenting in-person. Please email ekinnaird@alzheimer.mb.ca if you are interested in this option.

Visit the links below for more details on our winter education sessions and to register.

Click here for a printable spring education & program calendar

Family Education – Upcoming Seminars

Family Education programs sponsored by:

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Stay Active This Spring With Minds in Motion®

Stay socially and physically active this spring 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.

Visit our Minds in Motion page for more information and to register now. 

(Cost is $65/pair unless noted).

Spring 2025 dates, times and locations are listed below.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Join Our Spring 2025 Community Partner Programs

The Alzheimer Society partners with community organizations to create programs designed for people living with early to moderate symptoms of dementia to attend with their family members, friends or care partners.

Check out the programs available this spring:

Dalnavert Museum Dementia-Friendly Tours

Come to the Dalnavert Museum for their monthly dementia-friendly tours. This program allows people living with early to moderate symptoms of dementia and their care partners to step back in time and explore the historic house and its collection.

After your tour of the museum, enjoy tea and coffee and a closer look at some artifacts.

Please note: The upper floors of the museum are only accessible by stairs. If stairs pose a barrier, there will be the option of exploring the upper floors of the house with a tour guide in the Visitors’ Centre through our virtual tour. Folding cane-seats can be borrowed free of charge during your visit and there will be seating available throughout the museum.

Monthly Program
The last Saturday of every month, 10 – 11:30 am
Cost: $24.00 (plus tax) per pair and session, $12.00 per pair and session if one of the pair is a Dalnavert Museum Member

Register today on the Dalnavert Museum and Visitors’ Centre website

The Fun!-Damentals of Table Tennis (Manitoba Table Tennis Association)

The Fun!-Damentals of Table Tennis program connects people living with early to moderate signs of dementia and their care partners through fitness and friendship.

Table tennis is a great aerobic exercise with proven cognitive benefits. Participants will take part in gentle recreational play. We will teach basic techniques and rules of the game while having tons of fun.

Spring Program (10 weeks)
Cornerstone Alliance Church, 1100 Autumnwood Dr, Winnipeg
Mondays, 6 – 8 pm
Mar 24 – June 9, 2025
*No session on Apr 21 or May 19*
Cost: $110/pair

Registration opens March 1. Register by emailing table.tennis@sportmanitoba.ca 

Tales Along the Trail (Fort WhyteAlive)

Tales Along the Trail is a welcoming outdoor experience designed for individuals living with early to moderate signs of dementia and their care partners. This program offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature in a relaxed and supportive environment. Guided by an experienced naturalist, you’ll explore the serene pathways of FortWhyte, where the beauty of spring comes alive.

Each session features a gentle walk through the forest, with mindful stops to engage the senses and fully appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of nature. After the walk, participants are invited to gather in a cozy indoor space to share reflections, stories and enjoy a light snack together.

Come join us for a peaceful, uplifting experience in nature – where every moment is an opportunity to connect, explore, and savour the world around us.

Spring Program (7 weeks)
FortWhyte Alive, 1961 McCreary Rd, Winnipeg
Tuesdays, 2 – 3:30 pm
May 6 – June 17, 2025
Cost: $160 + GST/pair

Registration opens March 18

To register, please contact Melissa Wiens by email (mwiens@fortwhyte.org) or phone (204-989-8355 ext. 210).

The Living Well Program (The Leaf)

The Living Well Program enables people with early to moderate signs of dementia and their care partners 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, fostering social engagement, and guided explorations of The Leaf and outdoor gardens when the weather permits. Every session includes refreshments.

Spring Program (4 weeks)
The Leaf, 145 The Leaf Way, Winnipeg
Mondays, 2 – 3:30 pm
May 5 – June 2, 2025
*No session on May 19*
Cost: $150 + GST/pair

Registration opens March 5 at 9 am. Register on the Assiniboine Park Conservancy website

Tune-Up Café (Convalescent Home of Winnipeg)

Tune-Up Café is for individuals living with early to moderate signs of dementia and their care partners. It’s an inclusive and welcoming meeting place for singing, making social connections and sipping on a cuppa!

Spring Program
Convalescent Home of Winnipeg, 276 Hugo St North, Winnipeg
Tuesdays, 6:15 – 8 pm
Meets weekly
There is no fee to attend, but registration is required.

Contact Sherry at tuneupcafe276@gmail.com for more information and to register.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

Follow Us On Social Media

Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) for the most current news, information and resources. If you’re already following us on social media, invite your friends to do the same!

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

X (formerly Twitter)

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

We Rely on Your Donations to Continue Our Work

Your gifts help support individuals, families and communities affected by dementia.

DONATE NOW

BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR

LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL

Remember. You Are Not Alone.

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, a family member or a friend’s memory, right through to the later symptoms of dementia. Call us today at 204-943-6622 (Wpg) / 1-800-378-6622 (MB), email alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca or fill out our online form and we will reach out to you.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE