The issue of loss and grief is one of the most significant issues when supporting people with dementia and their care partners. Losses and grieving occur in different ways at all stages in the dementia caregiving journey.

Cognitive impairment occurs along a continuum from mild subjective memory complaints occurring during the normal aging process to severe memory and cognitive deficits due to dementia. The significant growth of the older adult population and the rising incidence of dementia are posing significant challenges for the health-care system. Health practitioners are on the front lines of this battle and will play an increasingly important role in the early identification of the disease. Below are sample questions to assess whether cognitive symptoms have affected the patient's functions and which cognitive domains are most impaired. Cognitive screening tests are helpful in detecting people in the early stages of dementia and facilitate further clinical and diagnostic evaluations. For more information, please see the Canadian Consensus Guidelines on Dementia Care.

Cognitive impairment occurs along a continuum from mild subjective memory complaints occurring during the normal aging process to severe memory and cognitive deficits due to dementia. The significant growth of the older adult population and the rising incidence of dementia are posing significant challenges for the health-care system. Health practitioners are on the front lines of this battle and will play an increasingly important role in the early identification of the disease. Below are sample questions to assess whether cognitive symptoms have affected the patient's functions and which cognitive domains are most impaired. Cognitive screening tests are helpful in detecting people in the early stages of dementia and facilitate further clinical and diagnostic evaluations. For more information, please see the Canadian Consensus Guidelines on Dementia Care.

The Alberta Guideline on the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotic (AUA) Medications (2016) and accompanying resources provide health care professionals with direction regarding assessment and management of responsive behaviors associated with dementia. The AUA Toolkit Working Group reviews all resources, and will continue to identify promising and leading practices for the Toolkit. The AUA project is sponsored by the Seniors Health SCN in collaboration with the Addiction and Mental Health SCN.

At We Care, we understand that seniors, and others who need care and support, enjoy an improved quality-of-life when they continue living at home in familiar surroundings. That's why we've created the most professional, compassionate and attentive home care program in Canada. And it's how we've grown into Canada's largest independently owned home health service. We're locally based, so we understand your community and its history. We know the area's unique character. Our own families are growing up here and in many instances, our parents and grandparents have helped shape the community's history. On the bigger scale, we're nationally linked, with over 50 locations across Canada. We share successful practices, provide exclusive services, and are there when you need us. It's our compassion, along with the resourcefulness of a professional national network, that make us the care provider of choice for thousands of families all across Canada.

Please join us for our first live meeting! Dr. David Sheard presents on understanding the real meaning of person centred care and know if your health care professional and/or
care community is really person centred.

*Please note that the start time is 7:00PM Alberta/MT time.

Being Together in Dementia Care Certificate

The purpose of this record is to have important documents in a place that you can grab quickly when you need to see a doctor or go to the hospital. The following are suggestions that you may wish to include:

• A short summary of the person you are caring for's medical history
• An updated list of their medications
• A copy of their most recent test results
• A copy of their personal directive , power of attorney and a list of who also has a copy
• A list of doctors, nurse practitioners, home care contacts and other healthcare or community professionals who are caring for them

This section includes samples of record keeping templates of medication, health information, and behavioural tracking log that you can use to keep information organized and accessible. You may find that making changes to these samples based on your needs may be helpful to you.

Progression - End of Life

Reclaiming Yourself

Video Resources:

Dementia: Palliative care at the end of life

Reflections on caring for my mother

Dying in long term care: Preparing families and staff

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: Learning about Dementia and Care near the End of Life

Asking questions of health care providers can sometimes be hard. Many of us simply do not know the questions we could be asking to help us better understand and plan for the future.

This question prompt sheet has been designed to open up conversations between you, your family, and members of the health care staff in this facility. The answers to these questions may not be simple or straightforward; dementia affects each person in different ways.

By asking these important questions, we hope you are able to get the information you need regarding how things might progress towards the final stages of life and help prepare you for the future.

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