See a movie this weekend!

Are you looking for something to enjoy indoors this weekend with family and friends, now that fall weather is here and the evenings are getting a little crisp? Try out ROBOT & FRANK, a recent  release from the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Light-hearted and fun, the film also focuses on a near future where highly technological aids make coping with memory loss easier and re-invigorate the lives of everyone affected.

Synopsis from the Princess Cinemas website:

An aging thief with a fading memory finds his love for larceny reinvigorated after receiving a companion robot from his concerned son in this tender sci-fi comedy-drama starring Academy Award nominee Frank Langella. Frank (Langella) is a former criminal living out his twilight years in quiet solitude. Though frequent trips to the local library keep him physically active and mentally stimulated, there's little question that his memory isn't what it used to be, and lately his grown children have begun to express concern over the fact that he lives alone. Bestowed a caretaker robot capable of offering engaging interaction and tending to basic household chores, Frank at first resents his android helper. But in time he lets his guard down and begins to actually enjoy the companionship of his new domestic partner. Later, when the future of the local library is threatened, Frank falls back into his old ways and discovers that his robot also doubles as a competent criminal sidekick.

Click here for showtimes on the Princess Cinemas website.
Princess Cinema and Princess Twin Cinema are located at Princess and King Street in Uptown Waterloo.

Making Time for Fun.

Sometimes, in the midst of our busy weeks, we all need to make time for a bit of fun.

This week, some of the MAREP team met after work for an evening of Go-Karting. What a great way to connect and build relationships with staff!

How do you unwind, on your own or as a team?

Here are some strategies for coping with caregiver stress and some tips for engaging in leisure with a loved one with ADRD.

Take care of yourselves!

Happy Weekend!

It might be Friday the 13th, but with all of the sunshine out there, it feels like our lucky day!

Enjoy this collection of great reads from around the web as you wind down this weekend:

The Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan provides an opportunity for people with dementia and their partners in care to reconnect through art. (This reminds me of Gather at the Gallery, a program that our Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Lisa Meschino, is involved with).

What an interesting and creative campaign for Alzheimer's awareness. What do you think?

In Canada, dementia will directly affect 1.1 million people in less than 25 years. The rising economic cost of the disease will increase tenfold to a staggering $153 billion per year. Why doesn't Canada have a national dementia plan? The Alzheimer Society is encouraging you to add your voice to the discussion here.

A lovely video that reminds us of the powerful impact that music can have on quality of life (you can also read about it here).

(Images from top: New York Times; Alzheimer Society of Canada; The Stir)

The Westmount

Here's a little pick-me-up for this gloomy Wednesday.

I just love this video of The Westmount's Katy Perry flash mob. Enjoy!