Dementia education in Windsor & Essex County

The Alzheimer Society provides many educational opportunities for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, caregivers, and health-care professionals.

Group of seniors putting their hands together in support of each other.

Understanding the disease and its process is an important step for the person with the disease, as well as their partners in care. The Education & Support Team provide education and support, either in an individual, family or group setting.

Individual meetings can be arranged for home or office. Contact the First Link® Coordinator, Crystal Desjardins at (519) 974-2220 ext. 231 to access these programs. Caregiver education services are offered at no cost.

First Link® Learning Series

Education Series are offered several times throughout the year, including our First Link® Learning Series. These sessions provide clear, concise information about the disease, as well as community resources available.

Education for Health-Care Professionals

Caring for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is a long-term commitment for health-care providers.

From diagnosis until the end of life, health-care providers are called upon to support not only the person with the disease, but family caregivers as well.

This section includes information and resources to help physicians provide early diagnosis and to help all health-care providers support individuals and their families throughout the continuum of the disease.

Screening and diagnosis
Tools for healthcare professionals to support dementia screening, assessment, and early diagnosis.

Dementia research
Learn more about the Alzheimer Society Research Program and other external research projects.

First Link® program
The First Link® program provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals to refer individuals to the Alzheimer Society for information, support, and education.

Driving
Helpful resources to support healthcare professionals in assessing and discussing driving issues.

Ambiguous loss and grief
Practical resources to help healthcare professionals understand loss and grief associated with dementia.

Culture change
Fostering a person-centred approach to care will improve the quality of care for people with dementia and their families.

Pain
How does pain affect people with dementia? Tips and tools for assessing and managing pain.

Professional development
A selection of training and e-learning modules as well as useful resources.

End-of-life care
The needs of people with dementia at the end of life are unique. This resource helps families to plan and prepare for end of life decisions.

Resource list for family physicians (PDF)
This document outlines a list of resources that can provide education and support to family physicians and their patients who are living with dementia. The resources in this list address four distinct topic areas: diagnosis, driving, behaviour and management.

Resources for long-term care (PDF)
Moving to long-term care can be a significant and challenging transition for the person with dementia and their family. This list will provide an overview of Alzheimer Society resources that can support staff, people with dementia and families before, during and after the transition to long-term care. These resources are available on our website or from your local Alzheimer Society.

Feedback
Please feel free to email us to submit your feedback and suggest useful information and resources for your peers.

Resources for the Person Living with Dementia

The Alzheimer Society provides education seminars and workshops for people living with dementia. For more information about education events in Windsor & Essex County, contact Crystal Desjardins, First Link® Coordinator, at (519) 974-2220 ext. 231.

Below are more resources you may find helpful.

First Steps: For Those Recently Diagnosed with Alzheimer DiseaseBrochure. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada.

By Us For Us Guides©— inspirational guides for people with early stage memory loss. (contact MAREP to order a guide)

Bryden, Christine. Dancing with Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2005. ISBN 1-84310-332-X. www.jkp.com.

Personal Web pages by people with dementia

Please visit the DASN International (Dementia Advocacy and Support Network) site to find links to personal Web pages created by DASN members who are living with dementia.

Resources for Care Partners

The Alzheimer Society provides many opportunities for caregivers of people living with dementia to receive education. Contact Crystal Desjardins, First Link® Coordinator, at (519) 974-2220 ext. 231 for more information.

Below you’ll find more resources that may be helpful.

From the Alzheimer Society of Canada

Alzheimer Society of Canada. Alzheimer Journey: The Road Ahead, Module 1. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1998.

Alzheimer Society of Canada. Alzheimer Journey: On the Road, Module 2. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1998.

Alzheimer Society of Canada. Alzheimer Journey: At the Crossroads, Module 3. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1998.

Alzheimer Society of Canada, Alzheimer Journey: Understanding Alzheimer Disease: The Link Between Brain and Behaviour, Module 4. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2002.

Alzheimer Society of Canada. Guidelines for Care. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1992. ISBN 0-9695301-2-9.

Alzheimer Society of Canada. A Personal Care Book. Toronto: Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1993.

For family caregivers

Alzheimer's Disease International I Can! I Will! Idea Library.

Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario. From Home to Retirement Home: A Guide for Caregivers of Persons with Dementia.

Bowlby Sifton, Carol. Navigating the Alzheimer's Journey: A Compass for Caregiving. Health Professions Press, 2004. ISBN 1-932529-04-7. www.healthpropress.com.

Mace, Nancy L., and Rabins, Peter V. The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006 (4th ed.). ISBN 0-8018-4034-1. www.press.jhu.edu.

Mindszenthy, Bart and Gordon, Michael. Parenting your Parents: Support Strategies for Meeting the Challenge of Aging in the Family. Dundurn Press, 2005 (2nd ed.). ISBN 1-55002-380-2. www.dundurn.com.

Tapp-McDougall, Caroline. The Complete Canadian Eldercare Guide. John Wiley Canada, 2004. ISBN 0- 470-83449-8. http://ca.wiley.com/WileyCDA.

Government resources

Canada Benefits -- Connecting You to Government Benefits
This site offers Canadian citizens government-wide information about financial benefit programs for individuals. Of particular interest may be the pages for seniors, people with disabilities and veterans.

Canadian Health Network
The Canadian Health Network (CHN) is a growing network, bringing together resources of leading Canadian health organizations and international health information providers. The resources identified here will help you take care of yourself and the people you care about -- with tips on how to improve your health and well-being.

Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
The "disability amount" on your income tax return reduces the amount of income tax that a person with a disability, or their supporting person, might otherwise have to pay. Visit the Government of Canada website for more information about this and about medical expenses you can claim.

Division of Aging and Seniors
Health Canada's Division of Aging and Seniors website, with information on federal programs, statistics on aging in Canada and more.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
HRSDC's mission is to build a stronger and more competitive Canada, to support Canadians in making choices that help them live productive and rewarding lives, and to improve Canadians' quality of life.