Funding supports dementia care

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This article was published 07/09/2022 (1262 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A funding commitment from a private family and the provincial government is being called transformational by the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

A multi-year funding promise was made Tuesday by the Jessiman family and the Ministry of Seniors and Long-Term Care, so the Alzheimer Society can build on its First Link program, which connects families with programs, resources and staff as they navigate a dementia diagnosis.

The Jessiman family is providing a $500,000 gift over four years, and the province is matching that with a combined $1.3 million over the same time period.

The funding is going to significantly increase the capacity of the society to provide support to clients and their families, said Erin Crawford, program director for the Alzheimer Society.

“It will mean we can connect with people more often and earlier and we hope with more people,” she said. “It can expand the support group offering we have right now so we have more groups for people to join where they can go to get information and also really connect with other people who are walking a similar path.”

She added this is a great way to kick off National Alzheimer’s Month.

Brandon’s branch of the Alzheimer Society was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

First Link connects people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and their families, to various supports and services throughout the progression of the disease.

The society manages the program planning and provides access to community resources, information, medication and dementia-specific expertise.

It is designed to delay personal care home admissions, avoid hospitalizations and prevent a crisis.

A dementia-related diagnosis can be overwhelming for people to manage, Crawford said. Families the society already serves have told them it’s difficult to navigate dementia and everything it brings, trying to traverse the health-care system to find the supports needed, as well as finding experts to help them develop strategies and feel less lonesome in their own journey.

With the First Link program, people can be referred to the Alzheimer Society by a health-care provider, and the group calls them to let them know they are receiving supports.

The Alzheimer Society also calls back periodically during the journey to check on the family, person or their caregiver.

“Everyone responds to a diagnosis differently and goes though their own journey, but we call to see if they need anything, or just to talk and let them know they have supports if they need it.”

The need for these programs is growing, Crawford explained. The Alzheimer Society is averaging six new clients a day and is looking at a 124 per cent increase in the number of Manitobans with a dementia diagnosis in the coming years. Most of this is due to an aging population.

Now is the time to build supports for those people that are coming, she said.

Initially, the Jessiman family challenged the community at large to join them in raising funds for First Link.

Within months, the funds were matched, Peter Jessiman stated in a news release.

“To know there is an organization to help those who are diagnosed, as well as their family members and support network, is incredible,” he said. “The number of people impacted is shocking, and it’s only increasing. We have a long way to go to ensure these resources are available to everyone in Manitoba.”

The government has been longtime partners with the Alzheimer Society in providing care and supports, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Scott Johnston explained in a news release.

“Our government is committed to improving the quality of life of Manitoba seniors and investing in expert care for seniors living with dementias,” Johnston said. “This investment, in partnership with ASM, builds upon a shared commitment to meaningfully invest in programs that meet urgent needs, and help to meet the growing demand for specialized supports and services as client volumes rise.”

The Manitoba government has invested in First Link for several years, Johnston said. He added this funding expansion will be matched year over year by public donations to the Alzheimer Society. The matched funding will be provided over four years, equalling $325,000 per year, beginning in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

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