Who Cares?

Filmmaker Chris Wynn (Forgetful Not Forgotten) is working on a powerful new series called Who Cares? A Webseries about the State of Alzheimer's Care.

The series will provide a look into the lives of people touched by Alzheimer's Disease and dementia.

The first episode, A Captured Life, features Dr. Cleaver Keenan whose wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. In this short video, he shares his wife's journey that he has captured on film.

(Movie still via Vimeo)

Need to consider the language of dementia

Yesterday, CTV reported on the World Health Organization and Alzheimer's Disease International's report, "Dementia: A Public Health Priority". The article reaffirmed how the number of persons with dementia is rapidly increasing. While this increase may pose significant challenges to our current health care system, and our communities, I question the usage of language that describes dementia as a "ticking time bomb". The 'tragedy' language of dementia needs to be reflected upon, and in most cases, challenged. Persons with dementia, are just that, persons. They are not time bombs.

Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20120411/dementia-study-world-health-organization-120411/#ixzz1xan4f7JQ

Study: iPod helps persons with dementia

CBC News (New Brunswick) reported on research from the Atlantic Institute on Aging that is exploring "how using personalized music can help bring back memories and make emotional connections" (Para. 2). The article notes how three nursing homes in New Brunswick are piloting the usage of iPods as a "painless, drug-free way to reactivate the brains of people with Alzheimer's, dementia and other neurological conditions" (Para. 1). Researchers discovered that personalised music stimulates and reactivates the brain and can "be used to improve a wide range of neurological conditions, including dementia, depression, anxiety, strokes and Parkinson's" (Para. 4). Read more at:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/05/11/nb-ipod-pilot-nursing-dementia.html

ADI Survey.

Hi everyone,

We would like to share this message on behalf of Alzheimer Disease International. Please participate in this survey about stigma and dementia, or pass it on to eligible participants:

As part of the development of the World Alzheimer Report 2012, to be launched on 21 September, ADI is conducting a survey of people with dementia and family or informal carers to find out their opinion and experience of stigma related to dementia. The survey is in English and Spanish. The intended audience is only people with dementia and family or informal carers. Professional carers and associations are not being asked to participate in this way.

There is not much time - the survey will only be available until 17 June 2012.

We need your assistance. Please help us spread the word about this survey by forwarding this email, posting to your websites and social networks.  We would like as much participation as possible.  We recognize the format of a web-based survey may not be the best and only way to collect this information.  However, due to limited resources, we are piloting this to see if it is possible.  If your organization is able, feel free to provide assistance to individuals who cannot complete an online survey due to low educational level, lack of access to a computer or cognitive symptoms that impair their ability to use the survey, but they still have capacity to answer the questions thoughtfully.

Below is the link to the ADI website where more information and a link to the survey can be found:

http://www.alz.co.uk/research/world-report-2012

This survey is also available in Spanish from:

http://www.alz.co.uk/research/world-report-2012-encuesta-espanol

Gather at the Gallery Exhibit on now

MAREP's Lisa Meschino is featured in an article in the Kitchener Record about the Alzheimer Society's Gather at the Gallery program and exhibit. 

Gather at the Gallery, a 10 week collaborative program run with local art galleries, museums and studios, provides an opportunity for persons with dementia and their care partners to "learn and talk about art, and experiment with different media, including pottery, glass, fusion, paining, collage and drawing" (para. 4).

The Waterloo Community Arts Centre/Button Factory on Regina Street South in Waterloo is featuring a special exhibition of the participants' art until May 31st.

Lisa Meschino is working with the Alzheimer Society of KW to research the impacts of this program. For more information on Lisa's work, click here for an article posted in MAREP's newsletter.

Ontario Seniors Care Strategy

The McGuinty Government is moving forward with a seniors care strategy which will enable older adults to live healthy and longer at home.  The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care posted a news release yesterday, entitled 'Ontario Helping More Seniors Live At Home Longer',  which outlined the new strategy:

• Expansion of doctor’s house calls
• Increase in access to home care for seniors in need
• Establishing care co-ordinators to work with health care providers so seniors receive the right care, particularly as they recover from a hospital stay
• Allowing seniors to adapt their home to meet their needs as they age with the assistance of the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit
• Helping seniors stay healthy by eating well and exercising regularly so they can manage their own care and stay mobile (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, 2012, Para. 2)

As stated in the article:

The Seniors Care Strategy will help our seniors get the right care, at the right time and in the right place – which for many seniors is at home, where they want to be. Ontario will benefit greatly from Dr. Sinha’s advice on how to develop and implement this strategy. (Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care)

Mayor's Forum Age Friendly Waterloo

In November 2009, Mayor Halloran hosted Waterloo's first Age Friendly City forum. Since that time our community has worked together to ensure that the City of Waterloo becomes a place where all residents age safely, enjoy good health and participate fully in their community. On Thursday June 14th Mayor Halloran will be hosting the Age Friendly Waterloo Forum from 8:30-12:00pm at Luther Village on the Park. (Please see flyer below for details.)