Minds in Motion and virtual presentation are upcoming while existing programming continues
The Alzheimer Society Of Manitoba is a great resource in our community for people with dementia and their care partners. They have an information session and programming that are starting up for the fall and have many local support groups that are continuing that they are hoping people take advantage of.
“The Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba is a non-profit organization that helps support individuals and families who are impacted by dementia, and that’s any type of dementia, whether it’s Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, or another one of the over 150 different types. On a day-to-day basis, people can call us with questions or different things that they’re noticing in the person they are caring for, whether they’re at those first steps in the journey, or whether they’re approaching long-term care for end of life, wherever they are along the way, we have programming, we have information we can send out. We’re hoping to meet people where they’re at and provide them the support that they desire,” said Samantha Holland, First Link Regional Team Lead for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.
Holland says that to do this they have many local programs that are continuing or starting back up for the fall season. With our region growing and new members joining their team, it’s looking like this fall is going to be jam packed with local opportunities to gain knowledge and support.
The first program which residents will be happy to hear is starting back up on Sept. 18 is the Minds in Motion program which is an multi-week program for people with dementia and their care partners.
“It is an eight-week program within the community that connects persons living with dementia and a partner, it could be a spouse, a friend, or an adult child, with fitness, fun, and friendship. We start with some chair fitness. We have coffee and cookies, which is everyone’s favourite part, and then we do smaller group activities. It’s one afternoon a week for eight weeks, and it’s just a time to get out and enjoy with people who understand what you’re going through,” said Holland.
The cost of the Minds in Motion program is $65 per pair and residents can sign up by calling the Gordon Howard Centre at 204-785-2092.
Next up, residents will be happy to hear that a great learning opportunity is going to be taking place at the Gordon Howard Centre. A presentation called Connecting the Dots which spotlights three local researchers talking about their dementia research will take place on Sept. 19. The presentation will be live-streamed from 6 – 7:30 p.m. and though this is a free event, attendees are being asked to register in advance at alzheimer.mb.ca/researchforum2024 or you can sign up by calling the Gordon Howard Centre.
“The researchers we have this year, every year it’s a little bit different, but the ones we’ve gotten together this year comes from various fields. The title is Connecting the Dots, so learning about the ways in which these seemingly unrelated fields connect to dementia and brain health research. One researcher is studying cardiovascular disease and another one is interested in virtual reality, and how all of that links. People will have the opportunity to ask questions. We type them into the chat and they can participate live, and it’s just a good evening of learning,” said Holland.
The Alzheimer’s Society also has several local support groups that residents can sign up for.
“During COVID, we brought back something called the Ambiguous Loss Support Group, provincially, but it’s only been offered over Zoom so far since COVID [but we are now offering it in-person]. What it is, is a support group specifically to address those feelings of loss and grief that one might experience when they’re caring for someone with a progressive disease like dementia. The person might be physically present in that you’re still providing care, whether it’s at home or if they’re in a long-term care facility, but they’re not present in the way that they always were, things have changed over time and there’ve been losses. This is a structured, eight-week group. It’s a closed group. We have a registration list that people will have to reach out to get on, and we’re offering it in partnership with Melanie Thomas who works at Tudor House [Personal Care Home],” said Holland.
The Ambiguous Loss Support group will take place on Wednesdays starting Sept. 11 at Woodland Court. Thomas or Holland can be contacted to sign up and to learn more information about dates and the time the group meets.
The Alzheimer’s Society is also continuing to offer their care partner support groups which offer an opportunity for care partners to meet and share information and feelings as people caring for a person with dementia. There are evening sessions at the Gordon Howard once a month as well as daytime sessions at Woodland Court. To register or to learn more about one of these groups you can contact Holland.
Holland believes that it’s important that we have these opportunities to connect with resources in our local community.
“It’s important to know that, dementia exists everywhere, and support is needed everywhere. For people to be able to access day-to-day support close to home, is really all about convenience and making sure that people feel that their concerns and their feelings are valid wherever they live in the province. We want to deconstruct the barriers that often exist in rural communities so that people with dementia and their care partners feel less isolated,” said Holland.
She encourages anyone who is interested in learning more about dementia or looking for resources to help themselves or a loved one with dementia to reach out.
“You don’t know what we have until you call and you experience it for yourself,” said Holland.
For any questions about the programs in our region as well as discussions about how the Alzheimer Society can help yourself or a loved one with dementia, Holland is available at 204-268-4752 or by emailing alzne@alzheimer.mb.ca.
