It’s not always easy living with a loved one afflicted with dementia, however, being armed with information about the condition — and the resources available to help deal with it — can make a big difference.
For this reason the Oceanside Healthy Aging Initiative (OHAI) is sponsoring a public forum for those who are living with a loved one who has dementia, or for those who simply want to learn more about healthy aging.
According to the Alzheimer Society in British Columbia there were 68,910 people with dementia in 2008, or 1.6 per cent of the population, and projections are in 2038 there will be over 177,684 people, or three per cent of the population, living with dementia. The forum will include a panel of experts who will provide an update on dementia and dementia care and discuss topics such as safety at home, programs and services that are available to those living with dementia, information about aging, health and driving among other topics that may be of interest to you.
Healthy Aging is a topic of significance as Vancouver Island has a higher proportion of elderly people than the rest of the province or the country.
“The Vancouver Island Health Authority’s (VIHA) strategic plan acknowledges that the health authority has an opportunity to become a leader in seniors’ care service excellence by delivering a full spectrum of services across the continuum. This will be accomplished by enhancing partnerships with community agencies, implementing best practices, and engaging in ongoing research, education and training,” said Dr. Marilyn Bater, a Geriatrician with VIHA.
The OHAI is a collaborative committee focused on healthy aging and education and tries to integrate and apply existing knowledge in the field of healthy aging to enrich the lives of older adults in the Oceanside area.
The Alzheimer Society will be on hand with information about programs such as the Dementia Help Line and “First Link” which connects people to services, support and education.
The expert panel will include a physician along with representatives from the BC Alzheimer’s Society, RCMP Community Policing, VIHA and Vancouver Island University (VIU). There will be display booths and the opportunity to ask questions.
Displays start at noon and the forum is from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday May 14, 2011 at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre. RSVP to 1-877-888-8834 (space is limited).
For more information about dementia visit: www.alzheimer.bc.org.
