Alzheimer Society of OntarioAlzheimer Society - Connexion
October 2020 - Issue 19
Hello, Friend!
We hope this newsletter finds you well. 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 416-967-5900.
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:
Thank You for Helping Make World Alzheimer’s Month a Success!
Taking Care of You: World Mental Health Day
New Resource: Together Apart — A Guide to Visiting from a Distance
Social with a Purpose: Baking Edition
Tips for Care Partners: Fun Fall Activities
Join the Alzheimer Society of Toronto for Caregiver Day on October 20!
Online Programs & Webinars
Thank You for Helping Make World Alzheimer’s Month a Success!
As World Alzheimer’s Month concludes for another year, we wanted to say THANK YOU to the people like you who showed your support leading up to World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21 and all September long. It was so exciting to see you raise awareness for people living with dementia and #GoBlueForAlz.
To commemorate a successful World Alzheimer’s Month, we wanted to share some of the highlights with you below!
Landmarks Across Ontario #GoBlueForAlz
Landmarks like the Hamilton Sign, the CN Tower, the Regional Municipality of Durham Region office, the City of Vaughan City Hall, the Town of Newmarket’s Riverwalk Commons, and the Historical Bridge 13 in the heart of Welland, illuminated in blue to celebrate and honour World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21.
Pictured from left to right: The Hamilton Sign (photo credit: TW @HamiltonsMayor), CN Tower, the Regional Municipality of Durham Region office, the City of Vaughan City Hall (photo credit: TW @City_of_Vaughan), Town of Newmarket’s Riverwalk Commons, and the Historical Bridge 13 (photo credit: IG @anthony_gallaccio).
Communities Across Ontario #GoBlueForAlz
We LOVED seeing community members, even our furry friends, #GoBlueForAlz on World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21!
Pictured from left to right: @cosmothemutt, @robynowenmusic, @haltonhealthcare, @halfofjess_, @dixonhall_toronto.
Thank you once again for helping us raise awareness during World Alzheimer's Month and on World Alzheimer's Day. We couldn’t do it without you!
Taking Care of You: World Mental Health Day
Did you know that almost half of people living with dementia are diagnosed with or have symptoms of depression or that their care partners experience higher rates of depression than any other care partner?
This World Mental Health Day on October 10, help increase awareness and end the stigma around mental illness and dementia by starting a conversation and being there for the person living with dementia and their care partner in your life.
If you need someone to lean on or want to learn more about how you can help the person living with dementia in your life, reach out to us at communications@alzon.ca.
New Resource: Together Apart A Guide to Visiting from a Distance
People living with dementia faced social isolation regularly before COVID-19, but with physical distancing now a requirement, this isolation has intensified.
That’s why the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Haliburton, the Alzheimer Society of Oxford and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario have written and produced this resource guide in response to COVID-19 to help reduce the social isolation people living with dementia are facing.
You can download a digital or printable version of the Guide here.
Social with a Purpose: Baking Edition
For those of you who don’t know, Social with a Purpose (formerly known as Coffee Break), is our NEW DIY fundraiser. To find out more about how to register your Social with a Purpose, please click here!
It’s time to get baking! We are inviting you to participate in Social with a Purpose: Baking Edition! Narmatha Jayakumar, owner of BN Sweets N’ Cakery, will be leading two sessions in decorating cookies and cupcakes via Zoom. These classes are free and open to the public.
Event Details
Social with a Purpose: Baking Edition - Fall Cookies
Date/Time: October 26 at 6:30 PM
Social with a Purpose: Baking Edition - Holiday Cupcakes
Date/Time: November 26 at 6:30 PM
Can’t attend but still want to support? Click here to donate. Your donation will help us continue to provide virtual social and recreational programming which helps alleviate the feelings of loneliness and isolation felt by people living with dementia and their care partners.
Questions? Please reach out to Holly Groeneveld, Special Events Coordinator at hgroeneveld@alz.to.
Tips for Care Partners: Fun Fall Activities
Fall is a wonderful time of year that brings lots of pretty changes in nature that can offer us many thoughtful activities to embrace. This month, we invite you to experience some of the best that fall has to offer!
Fall Activities
Get creative by decorating pumpkins with upcycled items from around your home. Think ribbons, leaves, seeds from pumpkins/apples, buttons.
Gather your own pinecones to create a wreath or table centrepiece. Collect fallen pinecones to keep them in a home for natural air freshener.
Harvest pumpkin or apples! There are many ‘pick your own’ farms near Toronto. We advise to phone in advance as some businesses have changed their operations for 2020. Click here to find a Pumpkin Picking location in Ontario near you!
Join the Alzheimer Society of Toronto for Caregiver Day on October 20!
When: Tuesday, October 20 from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
While Caregiver Day usually takes place on April 3, due to COVID-19, celebrations had to be postponed. On October 20, we invite you to join us online for the City of Toronto Caregiver Day to celebrate the resiliency and spirit of caregivers during these unprecedented times!
This year’s event will feature speakers from the health care industry and people with lived experience, presentations from community organizations, as well as self-care activities, entertainment, and raffle prizes! Come for one session or stay for all!
About Caregiver Day: Caregiver Day is a day for connecting, learning, and hearing inspiring stories from fellow caregivers, as well as having the opportunity to speak with health care professionals about services and resources that are available to caregivers.
Online Programs & Webinars
Focus on Wellness with The Boomers Club!
Focus on wellness and create informal connections among people who are on the same journey as you with The Boomers Club!
In this online series, engage in a variety of recreational activities including art, games, exercise, food, social chats and more. The program is flexible and can be modified based on the needs and interests of the group participants.
Please join our facilitator, Cathy Barrick from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
Join us for this special fall concert online featuring jazz vocalist, Jenna Marie Pinard and Jay Yoo on guitar. Jay and Jenna have collaborated for several years. In November of 2019 they released an album entitled "Here, Now", featuring their original compositions as well as their unique arrangement of standards.
This program will be held on Zoom. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link to participate. Please register here.
Thank you to our partnership with Xenia Concerts and George C. Hunt Family Foundation for sponsoring this special event.
Alzheimer Society Speaker Series Presents: Recent Breakthroughs in Alzheimer's Disease
When: Wednesday, October 14 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
In this free online presentation, Dr. Cohen will walk participants through the latest developments in Alzheimer's disease research, and ways that everyone can take action against the disease.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Sharon Cohen, MD, FRCPS
Dr. Sharon Cohen, MD, FRCPC, is a behavioural neurologist known for her excellence in patient care, teaching, and clinical research. She has over 28 years of experience in clinical research and has been a site PI for over 100 pharmacological trials. In addition to her focus on Alzheimer’s disease, she has also participated in pharmacological trials for acute stroke, fronto-temporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, Lewy body disease, Huntington’s disease, and vascular dementia.
Registration is required to receive the link to participate. Please register here.
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.
