Supporting a person with dementia who is living at home requires caregivers to get support from family and friends and to help navigate the formal health care system.
“People cannot travel the dementia journey alone,” said Carly Gronlund, the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s support and education coordinator for Vernon and the North & Central Okanagan. “Tapping into a support network is vital.”
To help the many family caregivers do just that, the society has created a workshop called Accessing Services.
Designed for local residents who are supporting a person with dementia, the free two-hour session will review strategies for accessing support through a variety of sources in the community, from family and friends to the health care system.
The session will also explore challenges that can arise when making the decision to access services and support, and offers strategies for working with service providers and acting as an advocate.
Accessing Services runs Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at The People Place, 3402 – 27th Ave. Pre-registration is required by contacting Gronlund toll-free at 1-800-634-3399 or cgronlund@alzheimerbc.org.
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What is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease? It’s a health question on the minds of many families, as an aging population faces a growing risk of brain disease. And the answer to their question will be available during a free tele-workshop offered by the Alzheimer Society of B.C. on Tuesday.
Understanding Dementia provides basic information about dementia and the impact it has on individuals, caregivers and families. Through an exploration of how dementia affects the brain and behaviour across the progression of the disease, caregivers will learn what to expect throughout the dementia journey.
Tele-workshops are designed for family caregivers, but are also open to health-care providers. Participants can ask questions and share with others in similar situations.
Connecting to the sessions is as easy as phoning toll-free 1-866-994-7745, then entering pass code 1122333 when prompted, or visiting momentum.adobeconnect.com/alzheimerbc and entering as a guest to listen to and view the presentation online at the same time.
