Launch of MAREP's new website

MAREP's new website went live this morning!

We are excited to launch our new website! This new site contains a comprehensive list of current MAREP projects, knowledge translation tools and resources, and much more. Whether you are a person living with dementia, a partner in care or a community partner, our new website has great resources for you.

We will be expanding our product library over the summer, so please check back often for any new updates.

Also, this blog has now been moved to MAREP's new website. We will have frequent updates on the new MAREP blog, so please update your RSS feeds accordingly.

Help us spread the news around!

Leadership announcement

After nearly 12 years as director of MAREP,  Sherry Dupuis will be stepping down to focus on her teaching and research activities with the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies and the Partnerships in Dementia Care Alliance. Read the full announcement from the Dean of Applied Health Sciences on the MAREP website.

Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program iPod/mp3 donation drive

 Do you have an MP3 player that you no longer use?

MAREP is looking to put your old iPod/MP3 player to good use for a good cause!

The Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP) turns 20 in 2013!  To celebrate living life through leisure, MAREP is looking for donations of Apple Shuffles, nanos, classic iPods, or other MP3 players.

Why do we want your used iPod/MP3 player?

The Music and Memory Project has shown that when individuals living with dementia have access to music, positive effects on their quality of life follow.

MAREP will be giving donated MP3 players to long-term care homes and community settings for use with persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias

See how powerful access to music can be in the life of a person living with dementia.

Watch a short (3 minute) clip of the MP3 player project in action through the link or QR code below.

“Alive Inside Film of Music and Memory Project – Henry’s Story”: http://tinyurl.com/musicanddementia

Donate Today:

Contact Sacha Geer, Knowledge Translation Specialist, at 519-888-4567, ext. 35280, by e-mail at sacha.geer@uwaterloo.ca, or drop used MP3 players to Lyle Hallman Institute (LHI) Room 1631, University of Waterloo.

Alzheimer Society of Kitchener Waterloo hosts a Whiskey Tasting Winter Warmer Adventure!

Our friends and partners at the Alzheimer Society of Kitchener-Waterloo are hosting a Whiskey tasting adventure!

Join us for Winter Warmer, a whiskey tasting adventure with Frank Biskupek, Scotch ambassador for The Glenlivet. All proceeds will support the many valuable programs & services of the Alzheimer Society of Kitchener-Waterloo. Thursday, March 28, 2013 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM Kitchener, ON. For more information, or to purchase a ticket, go to their event page.

The Partnerships in Dementia Care Alliance has a new website!

The Partnerships in Dementia Care (PiDC) Alliance has a new website! Please update your browsers. The PiDC blog is moving to the new site as well. All of the information you need about our Culture Change journey in long term care and community care settings is there!
  

The PiDC Alliance a 5 year research project that is supported in part by the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP). MAREP director, Dr. Sherry Dupuis, is a co-prinicpal investigator on this project which works to improve care practice for everyone involved in the dementia care process in long term car as well as community care settings.  The process includes health care professionals, front line staff, family partners in care as well as individuals living with dementia.

Your Loving Valentine

By: Mary Beth Wighton, Person with Dementia

February 9^th, 2013

St. Valentine's Day is one of my favourite holidays.  I am not the roses and chocolate type of girl, but rather homemade cards, and a special dinner at home.

In our home, the feeling of love intensifies as February 14^th draws near.  Because of my fondness for traditions, I also have one for this marked day of love.  Every year, I make my Valentine a homemade card professing my love.  It is a tradition that My Girls have greatly enjoyed for the last 10 years. 

My brother Mark, has been making homemade Valentine cards for his Valentine, Mary Anne, for over 20 years.  Mary Anne, proudly displays these works of art, days before the big event.  I'm always amazed at my brothers' talent, as every year he produces a new unique card.  It is from him, that I have borrowed this idea.

Dawn keeps her Valentine Day cards, from me, in a special envelope.  When you look at them, they are a reflection of our 10 year relationship.  Depending on the year, you may find a serious or funny card.  Some of my cards are very creative, whilst others not so much.

I have five days to create my card for this year.  I have purchased some necessary art supplies.  I have begun to think about possible ideas for this card.  I believe this year, will be more of a serious one, once again professing my love and devotion.  But, we'll see how it all turns out on the Day.

I am very happy to say that Brianna has now adopted this tradition of card making.  Her young man of her choosing, is graced with a beautiful card made by her.  I love it!

A few years ago, my Mom showed me a homemade card made by her Aunt Evelyne.  It was to her and her younger brother Ron.  It obviously meant a lot, as my Mom still has the card some 70 years later.  Below is a copy of this card.

It is important to often express our love for each other.  This does not mean our expression of love is only limited to our significant others. Since I have been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Lobe Dementia (FTD), I have told more people I love them then any time during my life.  I don't want them to take it for granted.

Team Dementia – I love you.  Happy Valentines Day!

The Partnerships in Dementia Care Alliance is holding a Webinar

Changing the Culture of Care for Persons Living with Dementia: The first phase of The Partnerships in Dementia Care (PiDC) Alliance Culture Change Process

 

 

Space is Limited. Registration is FREE!
Presenters: Darla Fortune, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program Sacha Geer, PhD, Knowledge Translation Specialist, Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program Summary: In this online event, aimed at practitioners and others interested in the culture change process, we talk about how the Partnerships in Dementia Care (PiDC) Alliance began the process of facilitating culture change with our partners in 3 Long-Term Care and one community based health care coalition. This talk will detail the need for culture change, the expected benefits, and explain the first of the 5 step process that we are using to facilitate culture change in LTC and community based health care settings.  This step is called “Dawning”.  We will talk about how to start the culture change process, how to bring the right people to the table and how to create effective, empowered relationships and partnership approaches to care for individuals living with dementia, staff and family partners in care. The work of the PiDC Alliance is guided by the theoretical foundations of Appreciative Inquiry (AI).  This approach means that we focus on identifying and building upon the positive experiences and strengths within each care setting we are exploring—a marked change from the problem oriented focus of many change processes and care approaches. At the end of this event, the participant will have a sound idea of the beginnings of the culture change process, and understand some of the speedbumps and ramps to opportunities that came from this first phase in each of our Culture Change Coalition sites.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5H9HRRZ

To register complete our online registration form by clicking on the link above, or cut and paste it into your internet browser.
 

We ask that you only register for this event if you are certain you can attend, we also encourage participants joining from the same location or organization to share a computer, as we are imited to 100 spaces.

Thank you.