Weekly Round-Up

Your Guide to Meaningful Activities

No Referral Required: You Can Call Us Anytime
 
Did you know that you don’t need to be referred by a medical professional or social worker to connect with the Dementia Society? Navigating care options for dementia is tough enough. We don’t add to that; rather we’re here to help with that, and more. From dementia education to practical strategies for people living with dementia and their care partners, to fun, safe (now online!) activities like music and art. You can take advantage of these services at no cost.
 
Connect with the recognized Dementia Society experts of Ottawa and Renfrew County:

Monday-Thursday 8:30am -8:00pm
Friday 8:30am-4pm

Ottawa: 613-523-4004 ext. 2
Renfrew County: 888-411-2067
Web chat: www.dementiahelp.ca
Email: info@dsorc.org
 
We ARE your community of support.

Live Events

Mark your calendar for these upcoming LIVE events.
Dementia Society live events offer the opportunity for real-time interaction, Q&A with dementia experts, and a direct connection to your community of support.

Your Community of Support Online and In-Person

Peer support groups are a great way to connect with and share experiences with other caregivers and their partners.  View this month’s schedule of Dementia Society expert-facilitated online support groups here.

Support Options

• Grief Peer Support: Grief is an undeniable part of the experience of dementia: ongoing grief, anticipatory grief, complex grief, and end of life grief. Join this group to hone your grief coping strategies, resiliency, and isolation during challenging times. The Grief Peer Support Group meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each, a month from 6:30-8:30 pm. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. More here.
  
• Long-term Care – Retirement Home Support: These groups focus on the experience of care in a residential setting and related challenges and strategies for living well for care partners and people living with dementia. Next meeting Wednesday, September 9, 2020, More here.

Always-On Programming

The Dementia Society offers a wealth of on-demand programming available to you on your time. Education, entertainment and dementia-tailored activities are just a click away, when you need and want them.

Mind Your Brain Health will provide you with an overview of the brain, aging, dementia, and brain-healthy choices you can make. Watch to learn the 8 ways to increase or maintain your brain health. This webinar also touches on taking care of your mental health during this time of isolation. (32min:59sec)

Facing Dementia Together but Apart  (part 1) - In this webinar, Dementia Care Coach Jesika Walker will discuss strategies to help you give care from a distance. She discusses this unique challenge and the following topics: - Ways to keep in touch - Communicating with staff and support services - Managing feelings of guilt - Resources and technologies that can help (50min:06sec)

On-Demand Activities

Get crafty! A series of Arts and Minds classes is now available on the Dementia Society’sto view them please click here.Pick from (painting, drawing, specific examples) classes to find the instructor-lead session that best suits your interests.

Music fires the brain! Our Circle of Song sing-a-long classes are available at your convenience on YouTube. To view them please click here and you’ll be humming along in no time.

In-Home Programs

Take-a-Break: You know caregiving is stressful and can require a lot of resilience. Our Take-a-Break program provides caregivers the opportunity to take a few moments for themselves, while a trained volunteer visits with your person with dementia. This virtual respite program is free, just register to request a match. We’ll find the right fit so you both get a break. For more information and to register, click here.

Pedal Power Program - Pedal Power is- a foot pedal loan program that sets you up to cycle in the comfort of your home. We provide the pedals and you’re on your way – it’s easier than riding a bike! To learn more click here.

Did You Know?

• The symptoms of memory loss, difficulty planning, and decreased initiative will require the person with dementia to rely on others to help them find and/or create meaningful activities as dementia develops. Activities can be more than just hobbies and can include what we need to do for our job, our roles, our leisure time, and other things that we do each day. Engaging in activities gives us pleasure and adds meaning to our lives. Click here for more information.

No one should face dementia alone. We appreciate your unwavering support during these challenging times.  We were created by our community for our community and we stand with our community, continuing to provide much-needed services and support to people living with dementia, their caregivers, and their families. Donate