What we do at the Alzheimer Society

By Submitted Article on June 20, 2020.

SUBMITTED BY THE ALZHEIMER SOCIETY

Over a half million Canadians are living with dementia today as well as thousands of family members providing direct care. In the next 12 years, nearly a million Canadians will have dementia.

Through a host of programs and services, advocacy and public education, the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and North West Territories is here to support Albertans addressing the challenges of living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

Support services include province-wide peer support groups, along with telephone and individual support providing practical information and strategies that assist people living with dementia and their care partners to understand dementia symptoms and plan for the future.

We offer information and education. The Alzheimer Society’s education programs, website and additional resources help people understand Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, learn strategies to adapt to living with dementia, and access community-based resources.

We offer First Link¨, an early-intervention service that connects people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias with services and support as soon as possible after diagnosis. Formal referral from physicians and health professionals allows for proactive contact with individuals and their families.

We advocate efforts to ensure that dementia is a health-care priority in Alberta.

We offer the ASANT CafŽ: >an online community from the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. During social isolation, this has become an important way to connect.

The ASANT CafŽ offers access to information, education and support for people with dementia and their care partners, no matter where they live in Alberta. The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and North West Territories developed this online community for you, your family members, care partners and friends – anyone whose life is affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Imagine this site as a warm, welcoming cafŽ, stocked with information contributed by friends and experts who want to help you find answers.

On the ASANT CafŽ you will find discussions, education pieces, a “First Questions” segment, meetings, and webinars. The ASANT CafŽ can be found online at http://www.asantcafe.ca.

We also offer the “Dementia Talk Forum,” a space where people living with dementia, their families, care partners and friends can gather and share information: https://

discussions.dementiatalk.org/.

With the generous support our donors, the Alzheimer Society of Alberta & Northwest territories is able to offer these programs and services for free to help people stay connected and informed. If you wish to donate to the Alzheimer Society, or would like more information, or to talk to one of our Client Services representatives, please contact 403-329-3766. Help is just a phone call away.

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