This booklet is for the family, friends, and co-residents of people who live with dementia and act in ways that create distress. The tips and tools are designed to help you improve the relationship with a person with dementia living with responsive or challenging behavior.

In this session, you will learn techniques to help you support your family member or friend living with dementia. As care partners, it can be challenging to know what the "right" thing is to say or not to say. Tips and examples will be provided. Communication is key when it comes to helping support someone living with dementia, but communication is more than us speaking to a person. Join us to learn other communication strategies.

Understanding Dementia Certificate

In his presentation, Dr. Bill Gibson will offer an overview of dementia, covering its various forms, the expectations for those on a dementia journey, and insights into medical treatments along with other essential tips.

Understanding Dementia and the Different Stages Certificate

A geriatrician will explain the medical management of the disease including types of dementia, diagnosis, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and progression.

Dementia is a general term that refers to a variety of brain disorders. Physical changes in the brain cause dementia.

In this session, you will deepen your understanding of dementia and the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Learning Objectives

When you have completed this session, you will be able to:

1. Describe the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Explore the most common types of dementia.
3. Identify dementia statistics for Alberta and Canada.
4. Explore the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Session 3 includes the following parts:

Part 1: What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Part 2: Distinguishing Dementia and Memory Loss

Part 3: Other Dementias and Associated Illnesses

Part 4: Dementia Numbers in Alberta and Canada

Part 5: The Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

Session Summary

Work through the various parts of the session at your leisure.  Move from one part to another at your own pace and in the order that makes sense to you, based on your own needs and interests. 

At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar at the top of the page and type a specific question or topic, or reach out to your Community Dementia Ambassador Coordinator who would be happy to assist you. The Coordinator can be reached at ambassador@alzheimer.ab.ca

This session includes the following parts:

Part 1:  What is Dementia?

Part 2:  The Stages of Dementia: What Happens?

Part 3:  Exploring Dementia and Memory Loss

Part 4:  Getting a Diagnosis

Part 5:  Associated Illnesses

Part 6:  Helpful Tips to Address Symptoms in the Early Stage

Part 7:  Questions for Reflection

Summary

Work through the various parts in the session at your leisure. Move from one part to another at your own pace and in the order that makes sense to you, based on your own needs and interests.

At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar and type a specific question or topic to learn more.

Just as Indigenous communities in Canada are different, Indigenous peoples, communities and cultures hold different understandings of dementia, memory loss, forgetfulness and confusion related to aging. These understandings may be very different from those held by doctors, nurses and support workers.

The human brain is one of your most vital organs. It plays a role in every action and every thought, and just like the rest of your body, it needs to be looked after.

Can Alzheimer's disease be prevented? There are no guarantees, but healthy lifestyle choices will help keep your brain as healthy as possible as you age.

By making better lifestyle choices now, you can improve your brain's ability to sustain long-term health and fight illnesses.

In this session an expert in seniors’ health will explain what the latest research tells us about the possibility of reducing our chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease and the variety of risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease. 

Learning Objectives

When you have completed this session, you will be able to:

1. Describe the connection between maintaining a healthy brain and Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Describe the risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease that you can choose to change (modifiable).
3. Describe the risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease that you can’t control (non-modifiable).

Session 6 includes the following parts:

Part 1: Your Amazing Brain

Part 2: Being Brain Healthy

Part 3: Reducing Your Risk

Part 4: My Personal Action Plan

Session Summary

Work through the various parts of the session at your leisure.  Move from one part to another at your own pace and in the order that makes sense to you, based on your own needs and interests.

At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar at the top of the page and type a specific question or topic.