People Living with Dementia
RESOURCES
Peer Support
Ontario Caregiver Organization Ontario Caregiver Helpline:
1-833-416-2273 (CARE). Phone and Live Chat
The Ontario Caregiver Helpline provides caregivers with a one-stop resource for information and support. Whether you are looking for respite care in your area, a support group, information about financial supports available to caregivers, as well as help navigating the health and social service systems, the helpline is here to connect you to the resources you need.
The only resource of its kind in Ontario, the helpline is available to all caregivers – regardless of age, diagnosis or where they live. It provides 24/7 support because caregiving is not a 9-5 job. The Live Chat is also available 7am – 9pm (Mon – Fri).
The Ontario Caregiver Helpline is answered by professional Community Resource Specialists in English and French. Helpline representatives have been trained by caregivers to understand the unique needs of caregivers. They provide information, assessment and referral to connect people to community services based on their individual needs and preferences while considering the eligibility criteria of Ontario’s community programs and services.
All staff are trained in crisis calls, and legal requirements such as ‘Duty to Report.’
Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay:
https://alzheimer.ca/en/thunderbay
Provides the following services for individuals living with dementia and their care partners:
- Client counselling sessions via telephone (807)345-9556 Ext. 2009
- Virtual Minds in Motion: each week will consist of chair exercises, sharing stories and keeping “Minds in motion” Call: (807)345-9556 Ext. 2004
- Recreation Therapy At-Home Caregiver Kits and Activity Kits Call: (807) 630-5673
Free Counselling, Resources & Professional Support Services
- Whether you are feeling stressed or sad, dealing with substance use, or interested in learning how to maintain your mental health, you are encouraged to explore the free resources, tools, and professional support services available as part of the Wellness Together Canada program.
- Visit wellnesstogether.ca or call 1-866-585-0445
- Funded by Health Canada, Wellness Together Canada is available in both English and French as an online portal/website and can be accessed at wellnesstogether.ca. It can also be accessed by phone.
TALK2NICE… http://www.nicenet.ca/talk2nice
Check this incredible website out. One can scroll to the calendar and arrange a date and time of when you would like to be called and also determine the length of time of the phone call. Free over the phone, friendly outreach and brief counselling services for older adults and persons with disabilities.
Our exceptional team of social workers and social work students are here to support you. Call Us Toll Free. 1 (844) 529-7292
Dementia alliance international (DAI): PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT GROUPS for individuals living with dementia
Resource: https://www.dementiaallianceinternational.org/
· AlI members facilitate and provide online peer-to-peer support groups and social groups for people with dementia through Facebook and Zoom (online video conferencing), for our members, and which are free; you can join here. Online support groups are ideal for those who cannot drive to their local “in person” support group or who live in isolated areas with limited access to services.
· DAI also provides peer-to-peer mentoring, if you prefer one to one support, rather than joining a group.
DEMENTIA CAFÉ: has gone virtual!!
All people living with dementia and care partners welcome! The goal of Dementia Café: A Place to Belong is to create and maintain a safe and inclusive social environment with opportunities for social connection and interaction for people with dementia, regardless of age or stage, and their care partners. Typically, Dementia Café is held 3 Sundays per month at Urban Abbey, Thunder Bay, ON. Due to Covid- 19, it is currently hosted virtually over ZOOM – a very user-friendly platform that allows us to videoconference with you.
This is open to people living with dementia and care partners. If you are interested in registering, contact Elaine Wiersma at: dementia.cafe@lakeheadu.ca
Tips and Tools:
Guide to Virtual Creative Engagement for Older Adults (VCE Guide) developed by Simonne Cumberbatch – Community Behaviour Support Outreach Clinician at TC-LHIN BSSP, at Baycrest Health Sciences and Melissa Tafler – Arts-Based Learning Specialist, CLRI in collaboration with the Centre for Learning Research & Innovation (CLRI).
The Guide to Virtual Creative Engagement for Older Adults (VCE Guide) can help Long Term Care (LTC) teams address the under-stimulation and loneliness felt by residents arising from pandemic restrictions. The VCE Guide features a curated list of free virtual services appropriate for residents with various health conditions and ability levels.
While the tool was designed with focus on LTC environment it can be applied in a variety of settings including acute care and community. LTC Recreational therapists, social workers, nurses, and other team partners, may find the VCE Guide useful for choosing appropriate recreation activities for their clients. BSO Leads, LTC-BSOTs, GMHOTs and other behavioural support teams can use this tool in multiple settings to support care plan creation when addressing responsive behaviours triggered by isolation, lack of stimulation and restlessness.
Tool features:
➢ Summaries of each service and the easiest way to access them
➢ Tips and recommendations to encourage resident engagement
➢ Guidance around the most appropriate service for each resident’s abilities and interests
➢ Ten categories of engagement activities
Download the VCE Guide through this link
Virtual Visits Toolkit
https://www.ontarc.com/covid-19/virtual-visits-toolkit.html
- A toolkit for long-term care or retirement residence teams to set up video calls between residents and loved ones.
- Target audience is paid care partners
COVID-19 Messaging Boards for Dementia Care
- This document includes a variety of messages for individuals living with dementia. Many do not understand what is going on, or remember what you have told them. For example, “What is COVID-19?”, “Why do I look like this?” (for staff to use if they are wearing a mask), “Why we are doing things differently, and why family are not visiting”. The file is a word document, providing you a template to make changes to suit your needs – and your environment.
Reference: https://dementiability.com/covid-19/
COVID-19 Tip Sheets from the Alzheimer Society of Canada:
- Tips for people who have dementia and are living alone: with sections on personal hygiene, taking care of yourself, activities you can do at home, staying connected while practicing physical distancing and what to do if you get COVID-19.
- Tips for caregivers: with sections explaining COVID-19, maintaining good hygiene, taking care of yourself, activities you can do at home, practicing physical distancing and what to do if you get COVID-19.
34 Things to Do at Home During COVID-19
This very useful site is recommended by Alzheimer Scotland. Not only does it give great ideas for activities in the home it gives many links for sites that provide films, free books, exercise programs, gardening tips, virtual tours, arts and culture, and online courses.
https://www.londontheatre1.com/theatre-news/coronavirus-20-things-to-do-at-home-during-lockdown/
Long Term Care
A book for individuals living with dementia living in LTC environments:
These books are designed to help people with dementia to understand what COVID-19 is and what we all need to do during this pandemic. The goal is to help people with dementia to understand what is going on and why. Print and leave a copy for them to refer to whenever they have questions about what is going on and why. This book gives them something to do – while also supporting memory loss.
Reference: https://dementiability.com/covid-19/
Reports:
Government of Canada: Corona Virus disease questions answered
- About COVID-19
- Symptoms and treatment
- Prevention and risks
- Travel restrictions and exemptions
- Canada’s response
- Being prepared
Reference: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html