January is Alzheimer Awareness Month and this year the Alzheimer Society of B.C. is focusing on spreading the message: “It’s not just their disease. It’s ours too.”
Dementia affects not only the person afflicted, it also impacts families, friends, colleagues and the community.
That’s why the Alzheimer Society of B.C. is asking Sunshine Coast residents to be #InItForAlz and show support for people affected by the disease this month.
“It’s about making dementia not just someone else’s problem but everyone’s concern,” said Maria Howard, chief executive officer with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. “Dementia should be a cause that we can all rally around because we embrace people living with the disease.”
With that spirit in mind, the society has been working alongside members of the Sunshine Coast mental health team and the Sechelt Aquatic Centre to create services for people with dementia and their families.
The society’s Minds in Motion program takes place weekly at the Sechelt Aquatic Centre and offers low-impact exercise and social activities for those suffering from dementia and their caregivers.
The society also offers a Memory Club run by Vancouver Coastal Health's Mental Health team for those with worsening dementia.
“While Minds in Motion is intended for people in the early stages of dementia and a care partner, the Memory Club is geared towards people in the moderate stages of the disease,” said Bronwyn James, the society’s support and education coordinator for the Coast.
To learn more about either program or find out what other dementia supports are available on the Coast, contact James at 604-984-8347 or [email protected]
Next month the Alzheimer Society of B.C. will be hosting two sessions for those in the early stages of dementia and their caregivers called Shaping the Journey.
The education program is for people who want more information on what to expect as the disease progresses and how it can be managed in positive and supportive ways.
Each three-hour session will cover topics such as the effects of dementia on the brain, life after diagnosis, planning ahead, and maintaining your spirit.
The two courses will run in Gibsons; dates and locations to be announced.
In addition, there will be an information session for the general public on Feb. 3 in Gibsons titled Getting to Know Dementia. The two-hour information session will go over the different types of dementia, their symptoms and diagnoses.
Pre-registration is required for all sessions. To register and get more information, contact James at 604-984-8347.
