Alzheimer Society offers education, support programs

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This article was published 20/09/2023 (1098 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More than 18,400 Manitobans are living with dementia, but there are some people who mistake it for memory loss, which is why the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba says it wants to educate, inform and provide support for all.

Dementia is the umbrella term for any brain change that gradually gets worse over time and eventually makes it harder to function independently.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, for which there is no known cure, according to Jessica Harper, senior manager of First Link Client Support with the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

“Dementia can impact behaviours, it can impact mobility, and depending on where the damage is taking place in the brain, it will influence the types of signs and symptoms that you may notice and how they present in someone who is living with the disease. So it really, truly is more than just memory loss,” Harper said.

Navigating dementia can be a lonely and isolated journey, Harper added, and that’s why the non-profit society offers support groups for western Manitobans who are living with dementia, as well as their care partners.

Over time, the signs and symptoms that someone’s experiencing will worsen. As the care needs change, they’ll require more care and support from the people around them, including family and friends, and will require the input of different health-care professionals as they transition into long-term care.

“Most notably, for us, it’s always transitions related to housing. So it’s providing education, or the different types and levels of housing available within the province, what to expect regarding eligibility, what the application processes or the potential wait times are. And then supporting and walking families all the way through to grief and bereavement,” Harper said.

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, with the slogan “Support Changes Everything.”

This is the time to find better ways to support and improve the quality of life of those living with dementia, according to Jennifer Vicente-Licardo, education manager with the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

“By learning about research on risk reduction, diagnosis, treatment and brain health, Manitobans can take proactive steps toward their own health as well as provide better support for those living with dementia,” Vicente-Licardo stated in a news release.

On Thursday evening, Brandonites can sit in on a session to hear what’s new in dementia research, hosted by a renowned Canadian clinical neurologist, and medicinal chemist, Dr. Donald Weaver from the Krembil Brain Institute University Health Network in Toronto.

The virtual session will be livestreamed from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Seniors for Seniors, located at 311 Park Ave. East.

It’s common for families to stay connected with the Alzheimer Society from the point of diagnosis, through long-term care, and in many cases, Harper said, months after their loved one passes away. Staff will check in on a regular basis to see if there is additional support needed.

“It’s about providing a quality of life for the person diagnosed as well as their family, having somewhere to turn for that community of support. Having a safe space where you can open up and really talk about what the experience is like, having a place where you can turn to get reputable information, resources and knowledge — to be that lifeline of support,” Harper said.

From now until Oct. 26, Minds in Motion sessions will be held at Seniors for Seniors every Thursday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Minds in Motion incorporates physical and mental stimulation for people with early to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia and their care partners.

The Brandon office of the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba offers Support Group for Persons Living with Dementia the second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 10 to 11:15 a.m., 4B – 457 Ninth St.

For those interested in the Care Partner Support Group, it’s held on the third Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m., also at the Westman office in Brandon.

In Killarney, the Care Partner Support Group is offered on the second Monday of the month from 10 to 11:15 a.m., at the New Horizon Seniors’ Centre, 520 Mountain Ave.

For those who have difficulty travelling, virtual meetings are held for the Care Partner Support Group. For more information, call 204-729-8320 or visit bitly.ws/V9NC

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