Alzheimer's Awareness Flag Raising at Dryden City Hall. Left to Right: CAO Roger Nesbitt, Client Services Manager for the Alzheimer's Society of KRR Heidi Cote and Councillor Shayne MacKinnon.
More than half a million Canadians are living with dementia, including here at home in Northwestern Ontario.
The Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River District is recognizing Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and a flag is now flying at Dryden City Hall.
“The goal of the month is to motivate those who are diagnosed with the disease and to continue to remind care givers that they are not alone,” says Client Services Manager for the Alzheimer Society of KRR Heidi Cote. “We work to fight the stigma surrounding dementia and we all know someone who’s life has been touched by it and we really want to make sure that they know we’re (Alzheimer Society) there for them.”
Virtual information sessions are taking place throughout January for care givers but also the general public.
“This really is a time to understand the changes about the thinking, abilities and personality of someone with dementia,” Cote explains. “How to work with those changes, in order to better provide care and of course hopefully to keep loved ones at home as long as possible. If we can support he care givers, we’re supporting the person with dementia by giving the care giver those skills.”
Cote stresses the pandemic also continues to impact care and the ability to visit loved ones living with dementia.
“We’re seeing a strain on support workers, in the hospital, long term care and it’s really coming down to essential visitors. That one or two family members who are really carrying that single burden of supporting their loved one with dementia. So if you know an essential care giver or if you are an essential care giver, this is really the time to recognize how tough it is on them and if you have the opportunity to help them out to do it, in whatever way you possibly can. Maybe that means bringing a meal by for them or shoveling a driveway when you know they’re giving everything they have to make sure their loved one is still getting those visits.”
The KRR Branch also offers a weekly virtual support group for care givers Wednesdays at 2pm, with in person meetings once a month (dependent on COVID-19 restrictions).
More information on the virtual learning sessions happening this month can be read below.
