Women Doubly Affected by Alzheimer`s Disease

Women Doubly Affected by Alzheimer’s Disease
D
id you know that women
are doubly affected by
Alzheimer’s disease?
Of all the Canadians living
with Alzheimer’s, women
represent 72% of that total1.
You know these women. They
are the special women in your
life – mothers, wives, sisters,
grandmothers, aunts and
friends.
This month, Alzheimer
Awareness Month, the
Alzheimer Society has
launched a nationwide
campaign
called The 72%. It aims to
inform women in their 40s and
older about the warning signs
of Alzheimer’s disease, brain
health and how the Alzheimer
Society can help.
Why women?
Women live longer than
men and age is a significant
risk factor. That’s why there
are more women living with
Alzheimer’s disease than men.
Yet the impact on women
is twofold. They also account
for 70 per cent of family
caregivers2, which takes a
tremendous toll on these
women who eventually provide
round-the-clock care. The
burden is especially high for
women raising families and
holding down jobs.
“The 2015 campaign is
intended to make Alzheimer’s
disease a women’s issue” said
Deborah Barker, Executive
Director of the Alzheimer
Society of Grey-Bruce.
“With their busy lives
women often pay a price with
their own health and wellbeing.
“The Alzheimer Society
is encouraging women
to become aware of and
understand the warning signs.
“If you are concerned
about getting Alzheimer’s, if
you have been diagnosed, or
if you are a caregiver, we want
you to reach out to our local
Society. We can support you
throughout the disease.”
Know the signs
The campaign’s call to action
is for women to learn the
disease’s 10 warning signs,
not only for themselves but for
those they care about.
Warning signs, often
misunderstood or ignored,
are critical. In absence of a
cure, early diagnosis allows
for treatment and support so
people can live as well as
possible and start planning for
their future needs.
Over the past 20 plus
years, support and programs
and services designed
to help people cope with
dementia have flourished.
Research is looking into both
pharmacological and lifestyle
means to help people manage
the disease.
“People with dementia can
live long productive lives and
their caregivers don’t have to
go it alone,” Barker said.
“Although there is no cure
yet, there are many ways to
help improve the quality of life
for those with dementia. The
Alzheimer Society of GreyBruce has many programs and
services that can help make a
difference
“If you have any concerns or
questions, please contact us.”
For additional information
contact the Alzheimer Society
of Grey-Bruce at
519-376-7230 or
1-800-265-9013 or
by emailing
[email protected]
You can also visit our website at
www.alzheimer.ca/greybruce
1
Figure derived from data in the Rising
Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian
Society, 2010.
2
Figure derived from the Canadian Study of
Health and Aging Working Group: Patterns of
caring for people with dementia in Canada.
Can J Aging 1994; Vol. 13 no 4: 470-487
KNOW THE 10 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
MEMORY LOSS THAT AFFECTS
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Where To Turn: The Alzheimer Society’s First Link Learning Series® Programs
To be told you have dementia can be one of the most
difficult and frightening diagnoses you will ever
experience. To best deal with a diagnosis, you need to
gather as much information support and guidance as
possible to better manage the changes associated with
the disease.
Sandra Hong, The Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce
education coordinator, said the local Society is one
of several local societies across Ontario offering
an educational program called First Link® that is
designed to provide essential information for the
person with dementia AND their caregiver.
“The program also includes support and counselling
services that will help both cope with the disease
process from the point of diagnosis throughout the
entire journey,” she said.
First Link is designed to help:
• Understand dementia, what to expect and how to
manage it.
• Manage dementia’s symptoms and improve your
quality of life.
• Navigate the health-care system and direction to
services and support in your community.
• Connect with others on the same journey. You are
not alone!
• Receive on-going support so that you feel more
confident, whether you have dementia or are caring
for someone with dementia.
Hong said the Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce
helps connect individuals with dementia and their
caregivers to coordinated services in the community
through partnerships and linkages between primary
care providers, diagnostic and treatment services and
community service providers.
Here is an overview of each of the modules that
make up the educational component of the First Link
Learning Series:
First Steps for People with Dementia and Caregivers:
This four week series is designed for those newly
diagnosed with dementia who have insight into their
condition and are interested in learning what to expect.
It educates them on topics such as memory loss,
changes to the brain, coping strategies and directions
for future planning.
Next Steps for Families and Friend:
A four week series for those caring for individuals in the
early stages of dementia to provide an overview of the
changes caused by the disease, coping and planning
strategies and available community resources.
Care Essentials:
A four week series for family and friends caring for
people in the middle stages of dementia. Topics include
problem solving strategies for responsive behaviours
and safety concerns and approaches for effective
communication and coping with caregiver stress.
Options for Care:
A three week series to help family caregivers evaluate
their current caregiving needs and explore other
possible care options available, including adult day
program, in-home care services, and long term care.
Care in Later Stages:
This three week series offers family members and
friends of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other
dementias an overview of what to expect in the
later stages of dementia, including topics such as
recognizing pain and distress and providing comfort
and quality of life.
Each of the series sessions are facilitated by trained health
care professionals. All sessions will also allow participants
the opportunity to share their experiences and connect
with others on a similar journey.
“Please contact our local Society office for any further
information,” Hong said.
Additional information can be found on the Alzheimer
Society of Grey-Bruce website www.alzheimer.ca/greybruce or
by contacting our office at 519-376-7230 or 1-800-265-9013
or by emailing [email protected]
Walk for Memories
WALK
FOR
MEMORIES
The annual Alzheimer Society of GreyBruce Walk for Memories is coming up at
the end of this month and public support
is more important than ever before.
Alzheimer Society
Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce
Walk for Memories
Walk for Memories is an Indoor Walkathon
Date: Saturday January 31, 2015
Time: Registration for all walks opens at 9
Walks begin at 10
Presentations and draws at 11:30
Locations:
Owen Sound – West Hill Secondary School
Hanover – Hanover Heights Community School
Meaford/Thornbury – Beaver Valley Community School, Thornbury
Saugeen Shores/Kincardine – Huron Heights Public School,
Kincardine
For further information or to obtain a pledge form
visit our website www.alzheimer.ca/greybruce
Or contact our office at 519-376-7230 or 1-800-265-9013 or
email [email protected]
To register and collect pledges online or to support a walker you know go to
www.walkformemories.ca
“Walk for Memories is our biggest annual
awareness and fundraising event and
the success of the 2015 Walk is essential
to our ability to provide information,
education, support and counselling
services,” said Deborah Barker, executive
director of the local Society.
Owen Sound at West Hill Secondary
School; in Hanover at Hanover Heights
Community School; in Meaford/
Thornbury at Beaver Valley Community
School in Thornbury, and in Saugeen
Shores/Kincardine at Kincardine Heights
Community School, Kincardine.
Registration for all Walks starts at 9 a.m., the
Walks official begin at 10 and everything
will be wrapped up by about noon.
The Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce
is a service organization with a staff of
registered health professionals providing
information, education, support and
counselling services for individuals with
dementia, and for their families and
caregivers.
“We look forward to seeing as many
people as possible at each of our Walks,”
Barker said. “Everyone knows someone
who has been affected by dementia and
the Walk for Memories is an opportunity
to show support for and honor those
whose lives have been impacted.
“Only 60 per cent of our funding comes
from government or other outside
sources,” Barker said. “We depend on
the generosity of the local community to
make sure we can continue to meet the
growing need for these services, and Walk
for Memories is a key part of our annual
fundraising efforts.”
“We invite you to come out on a cold
winter morning. We promise to send you
home with a nice warm feeling.”
Walk for Memories is a series of indoor
Walkathons taking place on Saturday,
January 31.
This year we will be holding Walks in
For more information or a pledge form
please visit our website www.alzheimer.
ca/grey-bruce or contact our office at
519-376-7230 or
1-800-265-9013.
You can also register online or make a
pledge to a walker you know at www.
walkformemories.ca
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