Weekly Round-Up

Brain-Friendly Activities and Information!

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 Ottawa / Renfrew County 

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.

Anxiety and Caregiving Tips and Tools to deal with Anxiety in this environment This on-demand webinar with Robyn and Charlotte, the leaders in Peer Support and mental health awareness, will entertain and educate you with what this “new normal” looks like and how to deal with all the emotions and challenges that come with this. (31min:17sec)

How Dementia Impacts Behaviour: Understanding is the key to coping- Hosted by Marge Dempsey RN, BA (Honours) – Marge is a retired nurse with a degree in neuropsychology. She has had the unique opportunity to combine her academic background and clinical work to further understand the relationship between the brain and behaviour. (53min:23sec)

On-Demand Activities

Music fires the brain! Our Turquoise Music Program is available at your convenience on our YouTube channel. To view them please click here and you’ll be humming along in no time.

Get crafty! A series of Arts and Minds classes is now available on the Dementia Society’s YouTube Channel to view them please click here.Pick from painting, drawing, canvas, paper - whatever you have at home and join in at your convenience. 

The Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County now has a Shopify account! Check it out here and make your request for in-home programs today!

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.

Dementia-Friendly Activity Packages include a collection of puzzles, games, and activities that people living with dementia and their care partners can enjoy from the comfort of home. Click here to request a package

Tip of the Week  

• Your caregiving role is dependent on the needs of the person with dementia. In the early stages, a person with dementia will have noticeable symptoms. Symptoms will depend on the type of dementia, their personality, and the environment. For information on the Early Stages of dementia please check out this fact sheet located on our website: Care planning checklist for caregivers - Early Stages

Just for Fun 

• This week check out our NEW Music Program "Arabic Tunes Musical Program" on-demand on our YouTube Channel:
  • Watch it here
• Baking can be a fun, easy, and rewarding activity that you can do as a caregiver with your loved one. Try this easy chocolate chip cookie recipe and enjoy the end result together! 
  • Watch it here

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