Alzheimer Society and local care home help bring support program to residents
If you are the care partner of someone who has dementia, The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba and Tudor House have teamed up to offer a Care Partner Support Group which brings care partners in our community together to share, exchange tips and for fellowship. The program is being offered in Woodland Courts, behind Tudor House Personal Care Home, and is available to any person in our community who is a care partner for someone with dementia.
“It’s specifically targeted towards those people that are caring for persons who are living with dementia. And when we say care partner, that could mean spouse, child, sibling, family, friends, neighbours. All the different connections to that person,” said Melanie Thomas, social worker at Tudor House Personal Care Home.
Thomas explained that the care partner support group is an informal group.
“There’s no expectation to share until people are comfortable to do that. The meeting is roughly 60 minutes. It’s held at Woodlands, in their boardroom but it’s completely open to the community. We will have coffee, maybe some cookies and a casual atmosphere,” she said.
There is a confidential nature that comes with a group like this. The benefits of taking part are that it not only allows for sharing of stress or difficulties but allows people to talk about the things that are working for them and exchange ideas to help each other out.
“[Discussions can be about] challenges that they face, maybe topics like communication, communicating with that person with dementia, or more about more actual care needs, and some of the dynamics that come up with being a care partner or a support person to somebody with dementia, any worries, any things that they feel are their strengths, what things have worked, or things that are challenging,” said Thomas.
Thomas said that Tudor House Personal Care Home was open to hosting a program like this in one of their buildings because, looking at the population, there is a rise in cases of dementia. In addition, because people with dementia live in their facilities it made sense to host a program that would be accessible to visiting care partners.
In addition to being a social worker for Tudor House, Thomas is a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Society and says that this program is also great because, with the Alzheimer’s Society facilitating the program, it provides access to a great deal of knowledge and resources.
This program is not just beneficial for the person with dementia, however, but for all involved.
“Caregiver burnout is a very real thing. It absolutely does exist. For [participants] to have an outlet, and know that they can go somewhere and share that, likemindedness [with others in a similar situation] and, be able to share with somebody with a background like myself, who is able to share that with them to provide that support, [is important.] More and more situations come up because of our health care system where families or care partners are caring for people with dementia out in the community whether they’re living in their home with them, or independently, and that person is coming to the home to help them prior to them being in hospital or in a personal care home. This is an outlet for [participants] in regards to mental health,” said Thomas.
The care partner support group meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month at Woodland Courts (387 Annie St.) in their boardroom. The meetings start at 2 p.m.
There is also a care partner support group that meets at the Gordon Howard Centre in the evenings which may be able to accommodate people whose schedule doesn’t allow them to attend this one. To learn more about this group, contact the Gordon Howard Centre.
Thomas explained that the role of care partner means that we put others first but that taking time to put yourself first can make it so that you are better able to fulfil that role.
“It’s taking care of yourself. I know that that is difficult to relate to when you’re in a caring role. But, looking after yourself, your mental health and your physical needs, before helping someone else means you’re going to be able to manage that role as a care partner better and more effectively when you’re able to balance yourself and be able to meet your own needs,” said Thomas.
Residents who are care partners are encouraged to check out this group if they are interested.
“Come out and try it. There’s no obligation. You can just listen,” said Thomas.
She also encourages people who know someone who is a care partner to share this information with them.
To take part in this program, residents are asked to sign up in advance. You can do so by getting in touch with Thomas at melanie@mytudor.ca or calling 204-482-6601 ext. 141 or by touching base with Samantha Holland, local representative for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, at alzne@alzheimer.mb.ca or calling her at 204-268-4752.
Residents in our community who would like to show their support for those with dementia can also participate in the Walk for Alzheimer’s hosted by the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba at the Gordon Howard Centre and Waterfront on June 13 with check-in at 5:30 p.m. and walk starting at 6:45 p.m. To register visit secure.alzheimer.mb.ca.
