Hello, Friend!

We hope this newsletter finds you well. Take some time to read through the content and implement some of these tricks into your daily life. If you have feedback or suggestions on content you would like to see, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know at write@alz.to. We would love to hear from you.

During this time, our phone lines remain open. If you need to reach our counselling staff, or have questions about programs and services, please call 416-322-6560.

We also invite you to keep checking the online portal to learn about upcoming online events and programs. You will also be able to catch up on any newsletters you may have missed.

Happy reading!

In this edition:

1. Our Newsletter is Moving Monthly!
2. Celebrating 153 Years of Canada
3. Congratulations! Jim Mann Receives Honorary Law Degree
4. Tips for Care Partners: Stretching
5. City of Toronto Caregiver Strategy Focus Groups
6. AST Online Programs and Workshops
7. Online Programs and Workshops
8. Community Friends: Bedford Medical Alert

Our Newsletter is Moving Monthly!

Beginning with the July issue of our newsletter, you can expect our weekly newsletter to be sent to your inbox monthly. But don’t worry! Our monthly newsletters will still be filled with helpful tips, resources, online activities and workshops, the latest news, and more!

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at write@alz.to.

Celebrating 153 Years of Canada

This July, Canada is celebrating its 153rd birthday! While Canada Day celebrations may have looked a little different this year, you can celebrate Canada’s birthday all month long at home with these activities:

• Anishinàbemowin (Algonquin) Words Colouring Pages - Print off the image and colour it in, or download for digital colouring!
• Canadian Cultural Crafts - Learn about Canada’s vibrant cultures with these simple, fun crafts you can try at home!
• Canadian Symbols Scavenger Hunt - Have a Canadian-themed scavenger hunt in your own backyard!
• Make Canada Flag Fruit Popsicles - Oh Canada! These sweet treats are made with vanilla yogurt, raspberry puree, and honey.
• Make Your Own Bannock - A traditional food for Métis, try this traditional recipe (page 54) to bring new flavours into your home!

For more information or activities you can do to celebrate, visit the Government of Canada’s Celebration Kit website here.

Congratulations! Jim Mann Receives
Honorary Law Degree

Congratulations to Jim Mann on receiving an Honorary Law Degree from the University of British Columbia, acknowledging his many years of passionate work and advocacy on behalf of the dementia community.

Diagnosed with dementia in 2007, Jim Mann has used his business background as a marketer and communicator to lead by example in reducing the stigma of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. As an advocate for the rights of people with lived experience of dementia, he has been acknowledged as the single-most influential person in Canada for countering negative stereotypes and promoting an inclusive society in which persons with dementia can make an active and meaningful contribution.

Join us in congratulating Jim on this achievement and thanking him for the meaningful contributions he has made to our communities.

To learn more, click here.

Tips for Care Partners: The Importance of Stretching

Stretching is often overlooked in the world of physical exercise however, it has numerous health benefits. Did you know that stretching can:

• Increase your flexibility
• Increase your range of motion
• Improve your performance in physical activities
• Increase blood flow to your muscles
• Improve your posture
• Help to heal and prevent back pain

It can also be a great stress reliever and help you calm your mind.

The National Institute on Aging has a helpful series of short videos that can help you through a variety of stretches. Watch them here!

Please remember it’s important to listen to your body and only do what feels comfortable.

City of Toronto Caregiver Strategy
You’re Invited to a Virtual Focus Group

We are proud to announce that we will be leading the work on the City of Toronto Caregiver Strategy. The strategy will propose a focused and collaborative approach that better addresses and meets the needs of seniors and caregivers in Toronto.

If you are a caregiver, or have been in the past, for someone living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, we invite you to take part in a virtual focus group to provide input and direction on the development of the City of Toronto Caregiver Strategy.

Scott Russell, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Toronto, will facilitate a space for you and others to share your lived experiences as a caregiver with particular emphasis on how COVID-19 has impacted you, the challenges you face, and how the City of Toronto and other community agencies can better support you.

Registration is required. Once registered, we will email the Zoom link to participate.

Focus Group Dates Please pick one date to attend

• Wednesday, July 8, 2020
  1 PM to 3 PM
  Click here to sign up.
• Thursday, July 9, 2020
  1 PM to 3 PM
  Click here to sign up.
• Thursday, August 20, 2020
  1 PM to 3 PM
  Click here to sign up.
• Tuesday, August 25, 2020
  1 PM to 3 PM
  Click here to sign up.

AST Online Programs and Workshops

Weekly Active Minds Social Club

When: Every Monday and Friday!

Join us online for a variety of recreational activities and social simulation, giving an opportunity for caregivers to enjoy some much-needed respite. The Active Minds Social Club caters to individuals diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia (under the age of 65).

See below for what’s coming up in the Active Minds Social Club calendar!

Each program is run online through Zoom. Once registered, you will receive the link to participate.

Click here to register.

Online Programs and Workshops

Register for U-First!®

When: Three-week program starting on July 6

Are you a frontline care provider looking to enhance your skills in caring for people living with dementia? Register for our next three-week online U-First!® course that starts July 6!

U-First!® is a training program that helps frontline staff to develop a common knowledge base, language, values and approach to caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by:

• Understanding the person living with dementia and associated behaviour changes
• Working as a team to develop individualized support strategies

For more details and to register, head to u-first.ca.

Workshop: Supporting Communication

When: Monday, July 13, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

This presentation discusses the changes in communication that occur in people living with dementia and provides strategies to communicate and support the individual using a person-centered approach.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize different ways in which communication occurs
• Explain how communication changes in a person with dementia
• Describe strategies that can support communication with a person with dementia
• Recognize the benefits of validating a person’s feelings when trying to communicate

This workshop will be presented online using Zoom. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.

Register here.

Workshop: Self-Care for Care Partners

When: Tuesday, July 14, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

This interactive workshop facilitated by the Alzheimer Society of Toronto is designed to help those caring for people living with dementia.

The following topics will be covered:

• Defining self-care
• Common barriers preventing care partners from practicing self-care
• The benefits of self-care habits
• Strategies, approaches and ideas on incorporating self-care into our daily schedule
• Emotional hygiene and how to practice it
• Creating a self-care plan and sticking to it

This workshop will be presented using Zoom. Registration is required to receive Zoom link to participate.

To register, please click here.

Workshop: Finding Joy and Humour in Dementia Care

When: Thursday, July 30, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

This educational workshop is for care partners of individuals living with dementia with a focus on looking at the lighter side of caregiving.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore looking and living beyond the diagnosis
• Create opportunities for joy and look at the lighter side of caregiving
• Evaluate the benefits of humour and having a positive outlook
• Assess the strategies and approaches for incorporating joy and humour into caregiving

This workshop will be presented online using Zoom. Registration is required to receive the zoom link to participate.

Register here.

For more programs, including education webinars, support groups, and recreational activities, coming up in July, please visit the online calendar here.

Community Friends: Bedford Medical Alert

In this section we will be highlighting the incredible work being done by our community partners in this time of COVID-19. We invite you to get to know them and learn about the programs and services they are offering.

In keeping with their dedication to premium service, Bedford continues to take precautionary measures to help ensure the safety of those who are at higher risk of serious illness, including COVID-19. Devices are a good way to keep exposure to viruses down. They allow our loved ones to have remote access to help without someone having to enter their home to check on them. Bedford is now offering Phone Consultations and Remote Set-Ups so that visits are not necessary to set up a device. Alternatively, their Care Consultants can keep your loved ones safe by following Bedford Safety Policies and Procedures, which include the use of face masks, latex gloves, and disinfectant wipes. They are also offering a new service, Caring Calls, which are daily interactions to keep our loved ones engaged and their minds active if they are feeling isolated during this time.

To learn more about Bedford Medical Alert, please visit bedfordmedicalalert.ca

People living with Alzheimer’s and dementia are especially vulnerable at this time, if you are able to, please consider supporting the essential services and programs that benefit this community.