Support and Activities

Dementia Café: A Place to Belong

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. All people living with dementia and care partners welcome! Typically, Dementia Café is held 3 Sundays per month at Urban Abbey, Thunder Bay, ON. Free coffee, tea, and treats provided. If you are interested in registering, contact dementia.cafe@lakeheadu.ca or visit our Facebook page for further details.  

Dementia Gardens: A Place to Grow (Coming Soon!)

Dementia Gardens: A Place to Grow is a visionary project that aims to provide a sanctuary on the campus of Lakehead University, where individuals living with dementia and their families can find solace amidst native plant gardens. We want to provide a dignified outdoor day program for those living with dementia, along with family and community programs, all while fostering connections within our community. This is an initiative of CEARH & The North West Dementia Working Group (NWDWG). For more information, please click HERE.

Adult Day Programs

Adult Day Programs provide part-day supervised activities in a group setting for dependent adults, such as the frail elderly, people with dementia, or persons with disabilities. These programs provide much-needed social interaction for the individual and also provide some respite for the caregiver. Adult Day Programs may include activities such as leisure, meals, exercise, games, music, cultural activities and more. Click HERE to see the full listing of available Adult Day Programs in Thunder Bay.

Age Friendly Thunder Bay

Age Friendly Thunder Bay is a community based stakeholder group advocating for seniors’ independence and quality of life in Thunder Bay. Age Friendly Thunder Bay help citizens age with dignity in a community recognized by the World Health Organization Global Network of Age Friendly Cities. To learn more about the work they are doing for our community visit www.agefriendlythunderbay.ca.

Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay 

The Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay provides quality programs and services to individuals living with dementia, their families and their care partners such as:

• First Link: a direct referral program created in partnership with health service providers to ensure individuals and families get the support they need to make informed choices, to better manage living with dementia at every stage of the disease. First Link® connects you to health services, information and community resources. We also offer our First Link Learning Series, designed to help you understand and respond to each phase of the disease with practical tips and strategies
• Minds in Motion: an eight week program intended for individuals with early to mid-stage signs of dementia and their care partners. The program combines one hour of physical activity and one hour of mental stimulation, unfolding to laughter and chatter, with new friendships forming and stories being shared. This program is held seasonally, once a week, at the Oliver Road Recreation Centre. *Due to Covid-19 protocols, this program is currently being held online via Zoom, one hour per week*.
• The Music Project: The Music Project aims to provide a person living with dementia with a musical intervention that is designed to stimulate memory, encourage engagement and support self-expression and sense of identity. Through the music Project, personalized playlists are provided on iPods to support a person living with dementia and improve their quality of life at no cost to eligible families.
• Individual and Family Counselling: They offer counselling for individuals and families in person, over the phone, or though the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN)- day or evening sessions available.
• Support Groups: They offer ongoing, specialized discussion and support groups for people with dementia and their partners in care. This is a space for care partners or individuals living with dementia can join together to share and receive support. These groups meet once a month. Current groups include: Diner’s Club, Coffee Club, Daughter’s Group, and the Lunch Club. Support groups are for registered clients only. 
• Resource Centre: The Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay provides resources for individuals living with dementia, care partners and the general public through our library of books, dvd’s and informational booklets. We also have information regarding other local services and organizations that would be of benefit to those affected by dementia.

For more information on programs and services at the Alzheimer Society Thunder Bay, please call: (807) 345-9556

Cyber-Seniors

Do you need help using your smartphone, tablet or computer? Cyber Seniors’ trained Tech Mentors are you people who teach technology to older adults.

Cyber-Seniors provides FREE technology support and training for senior citizens. You’ll find a range of resources on the website, such as:

• how to make a video call,
• how to order things online,
• how to set up video appointments
• device training
• “how-to” webinars and digital travel documentaries
• dementia awareness and more!

Call 1-844-217-3057 to register for free webinars or to schedule one-on-one help over the phone. Visit their website for more details.

Dementia Alliance International: Peer-to-Peer Support Groups

Dementia Alliance International members facilitate and provide online peer-to-peer support groups and social groups for people with dementia through Facebook and Zoom (online video conferencing). You can join here for free. For those who prefer one-on-one support, DAI also provides peer-to-peer mentoring.

Ontario Caregiver Helpline

1-833-416-2273 (CARE). Phone and Live Chat

The Ontario Caregiver Helpline by the Ontario Caregiver Organization provides caregivers with a one-stop resource for information and support, such as information on respite care, support groups, and navigating the health and social service systems. This is not a crisis or counselling line.  The Helpline is available by phone 24/7 or through the online Live Chat: Monday through Friday, 7am – 9pm EST.

Education

CERAH E-blast Newsletter

The CERAH monthly E-blast newsletter contains a wide array of resources, news, updates and educational opportunities for both professionals and home caregivers. Our “Caring Connections” series specifically addresses older-adult mental health & dementia care. Check out this months’ newsletter and subscribe HERE.

The Ontario Caregiver Association

The “I am a Caregiver” Toolkit from the Ontario Caregiver Association includes important information for the new or seasoned caregiver. This information was created by caregivers, for caregivers. The toolkit has a strong focus on self-care and mitigating caregiver burnout. The Ontario Caregiver Organization website also includes a number of tip sheets on topics such as: communicating with health care providers, privacy and consent and many more.

Dementia Dialogue Podcast

Dementia Dialogue is a podcast that features people living with dementia, their care partners, loved ones, and supporters sharing their experiences. Through the interviews, guests demonstrate their capacity to live life fully. Additionally, Dementia Dialogue offers episodes with researchers and advocates.

Keep up to date with the newest episode on your favourite streaming platforms!

The World Alzheimer Report 2023

The World Alzheimer Report 2023 focuses on reducing the risk of dementia and offers a truly global insight into the ways in which dementia risk factors are experienced around the world.

Inside you will find the latest research, alongside fascinating case studies and beautiful imagery, demonstrating how dementia risk reduction expresses itself in concrete ways all over the world, with articles from South Africa, Kenya, Pakistan, Singapore, Japan, Uruguay, Colombia, and the United Kingdom. 

Read about a community of centenarians living in Ogimi, Okinawa, a ‘blue zone’ village famous for its residents’ longevity, how pilchards, a small fish, could make a difference in South Africa’s dementia risk reduction effort; or why getting a hearing aid if you’re experiencing hearing loss could reduce your risk of cognitive decline. 

The report also highlights global disparities in an individual’s ability and means to mitigate their risk of dementia, galvanising a call to action for governments to provide population-based systemic changes to promote risk reduction and the importance of dementia research. 

Chapters included in the report: 

• Physical health risks  
• Brain health risks  
• Environment and population 
• Non-modifiable risks  
• Preventative risk reduction  
• Post Diagnosis Risk Reduction