Alzheimer’s Awareness Month 2021: #ilivewithdementia

The best way to learn about anyone’s life experience is to hear it in their own words. Over the past three years, we’ve highlighted stories of Manitobans who live with dementia. Some have the disease themselves, and others are family caregivers or friends. We’d like you to know how some of them are doing today.

Tara, whose dad was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s four years ago, wants to help you understand the additional challenges that have come with Covid-19. It’s been difficult without physical touch, and she misses giving her dad hugs and kisses goodbye. Click here to read her full story in our January eNews.

Dementia is a progressive disease, and people who live with it learn to adapt to change in surprisingly positive ways. See below to read updates from Tara, Nancy, Tannis and Gary. Thank you for taking a moment to understand.

Follow us on Facebook for other highlights and videos throughout the month.

 

Index

Read their Stories – including four Manitobans pictured above
Tara’s Story
January’s Education Sessions
Managing Through Covid
Become Involved in the Community with Minds in Motion®
Help Create Dementia Friendly Communities
Tips on How to Live Well with Dementia
Let Us Help You Understand
Don’t Face this Alone
About the Alzheimer Society
Get Involved
Media
Follow us on Facebook

 

Read their Stories

Take a moment to learn what it’s like to live with dementia. Below are links to stories of four Manitobans who have come across dementia in some way: three are caregivers and one is diagnosed.


TARA
is a caregiver for her father, who lives in a care home. She says:

“It’s been difficult without physical touch. We can’t hug or kiss dad goodbye.”

Read Tara’s story here.

 


NANCY
is a caregiver for her husband. The couple lives together in their family home. She says:

“He can’t change the way he’s thinking or behaving, but I can change the way I respond.”

Read Nancy’s story here.

 


TANNIS
was a caregiver for her mother, who passed away in June, 2018. She says:

“Even though she couldn’t communicate, in my eyes she was always my mom.”

Read Tannis’s story here.

 


GARY
has Alzheimer’s disease. He lives with his wife in their family home. He says:

“I still ride my bike, take my dog on walks and read the paper.”

Read Gary’s story here.

 

Join us for January’s Online Education Sessions

Families face many challenges when living with dementia. It helps to have an understanding of what you are facing, along with reliable information about the resources available. Below are some upcoming education opportunities happening this January.

LIFE IN 3D
Sponsored by Edison Properties

What are the three Ds and how do they interrelate? Learn about the wide-ranging interplay between dementia, depression and delirium. The diagnosis of each condition and the risk of each related to the others will be discussed.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Online session via Zoom
Presented by: Dr. Barry Campbell, Geriatric Psychiatry, St. Boniface Hospital

Click here to register online or call 204-943-6622.

 

LIVING WITH DEMENTIA: FIRST STEPS PART ONE
Sponsored by Edison Properties

An online education workshop via Zoom for care partners supporting a person recently diagnosed with dementia. Topics include:

  • Overview of dementia
  • Activities to experience what it might be like to have dementia
  • We’re here for you – the Alzheimer Society

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 10 am – 11:45 am
Online session  via Zoom
Click here to register online or call 204-943-6622.

Click here for more upcoming education dates/topics taking place in Winnipeg.
For education opportunities happening across the province, please contact your local office.

 

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Register for our Virtual Minds in Motion® Sessions

Minds in Motion® is a weekly fitness and social program offered online via Zoom. It is designed for people with early to moderate symptoms of dementia to attend with a family member or friend. You and your partner will experience physical activity, games that challenge your brain and opportunities to socialize with others in the group.

Choose from three online sessions:

  • Tuesdays, 2 – 3:30 pm / Jan 19 – Feb 23, 2021
  • Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3 pm / Jan 20 – Feb 24, 2021
  • Thursdays, 10 – 11:30 am / Jan 21 – Feb 25, 2021

Cost per participant pair is $45.

Visit the Minds in Motion website to register online today.

 

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Help Create Dementia Friendly Communities

Our vision is of a community that respects, supports and empowers people with dementia; a community in which people with dementia are socially and culturally valued; a community where people with dementia actively participate in a safe environment.

Click here to learn more about how you can help.

 

 

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Tips on How to Live Well with Dementia

There are some practical things you can do to help you live as well as possible with dementia.

For example, you can keep stimulated, focus on the things you can and want to do, maintain a healthy lifestyle and try not to become isolated.

Click here to learn more about how to live well with dementia.

 

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Let us Help you Understand Dementia

Living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia is unique to every individual and their families. What can you do? Keep reading to learn more and help make your community more dementia-friendly.

Communication

Respectful, sensitive communication is the key. Be supportive and use things that are familiar to the person to create a reassuring environment. If their perception of reality becomes confused, try to be creative rather than contradictory in your responses. Click here for more communication tips from our National website.

Behaviour

How dementia affects behaviour varies from person to person, and these symptoms can change over time. Always try to remain calm and reassuring, and never judge or scold. Your local Alzheimer Society can provide information and strategies to help you understand and respond to various behaviours. Click here for more about behaviour changes from our National website.

Safety

We all have an important role to play in making our communities safe for people with dementia. Having dementia presents challenges, but there are things we can all do to manage the risks and promote safety at home and in the community. Click here to learn more about safety from our National website.

Myths and Realities

Myths and misconceptions about Alzheimer’s disease abound – what it is, who gets it, and how it affects the people who have it. These myths stand in the way of understanding the disease and helping those affected. Click here to read the facts from our National website.

 

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Don’t Face This Alone – We’re Here to Help

A diagnosis can be challenging for both the person with dementia and their care partners. You are not alone – the Alzheimer Society is here to help. Here are a few of the services we offer to help families face the challenges ahead:

Supportive Counselling. To access one of our client support staff, call 204-943-6622 in Winnipeg, the Regional Office nearest you or call toll free at 1-800-378-6622. You can also send an email to alzmb@alzheimer.mb.ca. The responding staff member will assist you in a caring, confidential manner.

Online Education Sessions. The journey with dementia poses many challenges. Having an understanding of what you are facing, along with reliable information about the types of help available to you, will make a difference. Click here for a list of the Alzheimer Society’s upcoming topics and sessions.

Virtual Support Groups. Support groups are there for people who want to inform themselves with current information that will help improve quality of life with the disease. It’s a safe environment where you can learn, laugh and help each other through mutual understanding. Click here for support groups for family and friends. Click here for support groups for people with dementia.

Website Information About Dementia and Strategies for Caregivers. For a comprehensive list of resources, click here. This page on the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba’s website includes links to a variety of resources, including: topics for further reading; the national Alzheimer Society website; other national and international websites containing dementia-related information.

The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba’s eNewsletters. These eNewsletters contain information about topics of interest to care providers and those with dementia, current research, upcoming education events and much more. Click here to access links to several back issues of the eNewsletter. Click here to subscribe so you will never miss an issue.

Care Partner Support: Care partners are encouraged to access support in ways that work for them. To learn more about care partner support and education provided by the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, check the programs and services page at www.alzheimer.mb.ca/we-can-help/programs-and-services/

 

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About the Alzheimer Society

Founded 36 years ago, the Alzheimer Society exists so that all Manitobans affected by dementia receive the help they need today and have hope for the future.

As a province-wide organization, the Society seeks to achieve its mission through: community awareness; individual, family and professional education; support programs; and research funding.

Click here to read more about the Alzheimer Society.

 

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Get Involved with the Alzheimer Society

Whether you volunteer your time or make a donation, we need your support.

Click here to find out how you can help.

 

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Media

Watch and listen to this year’s media coverage for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month featuring our spokespeople and CEO Wendy Schettler.

“New Campaign for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month” – CTV News Morning, January 4

“CTV News with Maralee Caruso” – CTV News, January 5

“Pandemic restrictions pose unique challenges for the families of people with Alzheimer’s” – CBC Radio, January 8

“Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Manitoba” – Global News Morning, January 11

“January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month” – CFAM Radio 950, January 11

“Riding high while managing dementia” – Winnipeg Free Press, January 13

“Women disproportionally affected by dementia”  – Winnipeg Free Press, January 14

“The face of dementia” – The Sou’wester, January 18

“Alzheimer Awareness Month Continues” – The Lance, January 19

“Loved, safe, and secure while battling Alzheimer’s” – The Carillon, February 1

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Follow Us On Facebook

Join us on Facebook for the most current news, information and resources. If you’re already tuned in on Facebook, please invite your friends.

facebook

  • check out the Alzheimer Awareness Month posts throughout January.
  • share your personal stories and let others know how your family has been touched by Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
  • encourage your friends to “like” our page.

Click here to “like” us on Facebook now!

 

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