Back to Newsletter Archive | Back to Island Voices
June 2009 Newsletter for Seniors on Vancouver Island
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
To many people ‘dementia’ and ‘alzheimers’ are one and the same thing, but in reality they are not. Alzheimer’s disease is one form of dementia, there are many others. One of the things about alzheimers, is that over time, it can have a devastating effect on the family and friends of the person suffering with the disease, especially the immediate caregiver. It is essential that help is sought soon as possible after diagnosis. If not, eventually, there will almost certainly be two victims. No one should attempt this journey alone. The caregiver must also be taken care of. Fortunately help is available on Vancouver Island through the agencies and services listed below.
The information and the help that is available will only become useful if we can reach the people who really need them, so please do what you can to ensure that this happens.
Thank you.
Roy Summerhayes,
250-752-4637
Victoria Programs and Service.
Mission: The Alzheimer Society of BC exists to alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer Disease and related dementias, to promote public awareness and to search for causes and cures
Local Contact Information.
Victoria Alzheimer Resource Centre
Suite 202 – 306 Burnside Road West, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1M1
Tel: 250-382-2052.
Fax: 250-382-8108.
Website: www.alzheimerbc.org
Provincial Office.
Christin Hillary – Support & Education Coordinator for Victoria
1-800-667-3742.
Email: chillary@alzheimerbc.org
Programs and Services.
Dementia Education Series.
Dementia Education Series featuring the following workshops:
- The Healthy Brain.
- Life After Diagnosis.
- What is Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.
- Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Planning.
- Introduction to Advocacy Skills.
- Communication Strategies.
- Challenging Behaviours.
- Navigating the System.
- Preparation for Transfer to Residential Care.
- Life in Residential Care.
- Self Care for the Caregiver.
- Grief and Loss.
Our new workshop, Ways to Help: Supporting People with Dementia and their Family Members is also available. The workshops can be presented in several formats:
- Individual one to two hour workshops
- Half day workshops
- One full day workshop
Shaping the Journey – Living with Dementia – 6 two-hour education sessions for people with early symptoms of dementia and their care partners.
Coping with Transitions in Dementia Caregiving: Dimensions of Loss and Grief – a new 6 part education series that will explore the loss and grief issues of the caregiving experience in order to identify tools and strategies for weathering the myriad of these transition losses.
Minds in Motion – a 6-week fitness and social program for people experiencing early stage memory loss. Participants can attend on their own, with a friend, family member or caregiver. After the exercise portion, participants can play billiards, Wii, ping pong or just enjoy social time with light refreshments in a relaxed atmosphere.
Care-Ring Voice Tele-Workshops
Free one hour telephone/internet workshops for family-caregivers, wherever they are in the province. Includes online or paper materials for participants to use during the workshops. To register, please call 1-866-396-2433 Monday to Friday 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. PST or online at www.alzheimerbc.org.
Safely Home: The BC Photo Registry
Registration forms are available from the Victoria Resource Centre, the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s provincial office and www.alzheimerbc.org
Support Groups for caregivers and people in the early stages of dementia.
Caregiver Support group meets monthly in Victoria, Central Saanich and Sidney Early Stage support groups meet twice a month in Victoria.
Individual or Family Support.
Telephone support available by phoning the Victoria Resource Centre at 250-382-2052
Telephone support available from our Dementia Helpline which is operated from our Provincial office and is available Tuesday to Friday at: 1-800-936-6033
Individual support is available by appointment. Please call 250-382-2052
Information Services.
Brochures and Information available from the Victoria Resource Centre at Suite 202-306 Burnside Road West or by mail by phoning 250-382-2052. Most information is also available from these websites:
Website for Alzheimer Society of B.C. is www.alzheimerbc.org
Website for Alzheimer Society of Canada is www.alzheimer.ca (Almost all of our brochures and information are available on line at this website)
Newsletters.
In Touch – for caregivers
Insight – for and by people with dementia
Commitment to supporting research.
North & Central Vancouver Island programs and services.
Local Contact Information.
Jane Hope – Support & Education Coordinator for North & Central Vancouver Island
Home office in Ladysmith.
Tel: 250-245-7939 – in Nanaimo/Ladysmith area
1-800-462-2833 (Vancouver Island)
Fax: 250-245-4707
Email: jhope@alzheimerbc.org
Website: www.alzheimerbc.org
Provincial Office: 1-800-667-3742
Programs and Services.
Dementia Education Series.
Dementia Education series covering the following information:
- What is Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias, Progression of AD.
- Life after Diagnosis, Getting a Diagnosis.
- Communication strategies.
- Challenging Behaviours.
- Taking Care of the Caregiver.
- Navigating the System.
- Transition to Residential Care.
- Life in Residential Care.
- Advocacy and Planning.
- Grief and Loss.
It can be done in several formats including:
- Individual one hour sessions.
- One Day Workshop.
- Two half days.
- One half day, one full day.
Upcoming – July 8th in Nanaimo – Life After Diagnosis and What is Alzheimer’s and related dementias. No charge. To register call 250-245-7939.
Care-Ring Voice Teleworkshops.
Free one hour telephone/internet workshops for family-caregivers, wherever they are in the province – 1-866-396-2433 or www.alzheimerbc.org
- Life after Diagnosis – October 30th
- Alzheimer Disease: The connection between brain and behaviour.
- Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Interacting with people with dementia
- Moving from problems to solutions
- The Balancing act
- Healthy Brain Planning
Safely Home: The BC Photo Registry.
Oceanside, Cowichan, and Comox Valley RCMP in this region are trained in this program. Training is ongoing up and down the Island and throughout the province. Registration forms available through the Alzheimer Society of B.C. or through Community Policing in areas where RCMP are trained.
Support Groups for caregivers and people in the early stages of dementia.
Caregiver Support group meets monthly in Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach, and Campbell River. Closest Early Stage support group at this point in Victoria.
Individual or Family Support.
Telephone support available at my local number which is 245-7939 or my toll free number anywhere on Vancouver Island 1-800-462-2833
Telephone support available from our Dementia Helpline which is operated from our Provincial office and is available Tuesday to Friday at: 1-800-936-6033
Information Services.
Brochures and Information available from Jane Hope by mail or through the Provincial office. Most information is also available online. Brochures and information are available at our Kiosk at the Health Info Centre in Port Place Mall (in Nanaimo).
Website for BC is www.alzheimerbc.org
Website for Canada is www.alzheimer.ca (Almost all of our brochures and information are available on line at this website)
Shaping the Journey … Education for people with early stage dementia
Advocacy and Public Policy Workshops and Support.
Newsletters
In Touch – for caregivers
Insight – for and by people with dementia
Commitment to supporting research.
————————————————
We Rage, We Weep Alzheimer Foundation,
1760 Kisber Avenue,
Victoria, BC.
Tel. 250-920-9573.
www.werageweweep.com
Roy Summerhayes,
250-752-4637