Family caregiver series
Our multi-session education series provide information about dementia, practical coping strategies and early planning for family members who are caring for a person living with dementia.
Register for Family caregiver series by contacting your local resource centre.
Understanding dementia
Participants will receive basic information about dementia and the impact this disease has on the individual, caregivers and families. Through an exploration of how dementia affects the brain and behaviou across the progression of the disease, caregivers will learn what to expect throughout the journey with dementia.
Understanding communication
Caregivers will gain an understanding of how communication is affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. They will also have the opportunity to explore effective ways of facilitating communication and providing support to the person with dementia.
Understanding behavior
Alzheimer's disease and forms of dementia causes changes in the brain which can appear in the person's behaviour. Caregivers will learn how to understand behaviour as a form of communication and explore strategies for determining what the person with dementia might be trying to communicate, finding ways to decrease the occurrence of behaviours that concern us and responding in supportive ways.
Personal planning
Beginning to plan for the future as soon as possible helps the person affected by dementia make important financial and health-care decisions. Family caregivers will learn the importance of early planning and review strategies for ensuring that the wishes of the person with dementia are honored now and in the future.
Self-care for caregivers
When supporting a person with a chronic illness such as Alzheimer’s disease, it is vital that caregivers take care of their own physical and mental health. Participants will gain an understanding of how certain messages, demands or beliefs can contribute to stress and burnout. They will also learn how to recognize the signs of burnout, and discover ways to deal with caregiver stress.