[Education series] Navigating transitions in the dementia journey
Last updated: December 3, 2024.
Dementia is a journey, moving from one stage to the next, with each stage bringing unique challenges and requiring different types of support. People living with dementia and their caregivers often face significant transitions, which involve addressing a range of emotional, physical and practical needs.
Our upcoming education series, "Navigating transitions in the dementia journey," is designed to guide you through these critical stages, offering insights, strategies and resources to help ease the journey.
Key topics in this series:
- End of life (October 2, 9 and 16): Understand the physical, emotional and practical aspects as dementia progresses to its final stage. These sessions will help people living with dementia, their families and caregivers plan for and cope with end-of-life care, as well as provide strategies to maintain connection throughout the end of the dementia journey.
- Long-term care (October 17 and 29): Transition from home care to a long-term care setting can be one of the most challenging adjustments. Learn how to support both the person living with dementia and their caregivers during this change.
- Personal planning (November 6 and 13): Plan for the future and make decisions in advance can reduce stress and uncertainty. These sessions will empower people living with dementia and their caregivers to make informed choices about their dementia journey.
End of life
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) and dementia: Unraveling the myths from the facts with Dr. Stefanie Green (Webinar)
Explore the facts, the complexities and the misconceptions surrounding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for people living with dementia with Dr. Stefanie Green, a leading MAiD practitioner and best-selling author. Dr. Green will provide an overview of MAiD and lead an in-depth discussion on MAiD in B.C., which will include potential eligibility and access for people diagnosed with dementia, and will answer commonly asked questions.
Preparing for end-of-life on the dementia journey (Webinar)
Learn what to expect when transitioning from advanced dementia to end-of-life. We will explore the physiological signs of dying, key decisions to be made, ways to discuss end-of-life wishes in advance and strategies to maintain connection throughout the end of the dementia journey.
Supporting end-of-life: Considering an end-of-life doula (Webinar)
Join Laurie DeCroos to hear her personal experience as an end-of-life doula and learn how end-of-life doulas support people living with dementia and their families with compassionate and unbiased care. We’ll walk through how to access this support service as well as discuss the role of end-of-life doulas, from facilitating family conversations to assisting in planning for after-life care.
Long-term care
Considering the transition to long-term care (Workshop)
Learn about the options for accessing long-term care, including eligibility requirements. We will also discuss factors to consider when planning a move and provide tips for easing the transition.
The education workshop has finished. Please check our First Link® Bulletins for upcoming education workshops.
From home to care home: Preparing and adjusting to the new environment (Workshop)
Making a transition into long-term care can be challenging for both the person living with dementia and the caregiver. Discuss strategies for minimizing the challenges, including how to prepare for the move and respond to common issues.
The education workshop has finished. Please check our First Link® Bulletins for upcoming education workshops.
Personal planning
Getting your affairs in order: Health-care, legal and financial planning (Webinar)
Early in the dementia journey it can feel daunting to think about what lies ahead – but it’s important to plan now, before communication and decision-making become more challenging. Learn how to begin planning early for important legal, health-care and financial decisions.
British Columbia Law Institute and Canadian Centre for Elder Law: Dementia and decision-making (Webinar)
The Canadian Centre for Elder Law’s Dementia and Decision-Making Project empowers individuals living with dementia to make choices about their care and well-being. This webinar, designed for people living with dementia, caregivers, and care partners, provides an overview of the project, insights into BC decision-making laws and practical strategies for supporting decision-making.
We hope this informative and supportive education series can help you better navigate the challenging transitions of a dementia journey, ensuring a more compassionate and informed approach at each step along the way.
About our guest speaker
Dr. Stefanie Green
Dr. Stefanie Green spent 10 years in general practice and another 12 years working exclusively in maternity and newborn care before changing her focus in 2016 to medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Dr. Green is the Founding President of the Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers (CAMAP) and was Co-Lead of the Canadian MAiD Curriculum Project. She is a Medical Advisor to the BC Ministry of Health MAiD oversight committee, Moderator of CAMAP’s national online community of practice, and has hosted several national conferences on the topic. Beyond her clinical practice, she frequently speaks about MAiD to a wide range of audiences locally, nationally and internationally and recently gave a TEDx talk that is now available online. Dr. Green is clinical faculty at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria, and most recently, is the author of the internationally bestselling book THIS IS ASSISTED DYING, a memoir about her first year providing assisted dying in Canada.