I am a Care Partner
A care partner can refer to a spouse, family member, health or community professional supporting and caring for a person living with dementia.
Summary of what a Care Partner is:
A care partner can be any person helping support someone living with dementia. They are all in partnership with the person living with dementia.
Care partners who are well informed can help make life better for both themselves, and the person living with dementia. This site/platform uses the term care partner throughout.
Education
Seeds of Hope - Family Learning Series
Looking for information, resources and/or education about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias? Check out the variety of topics in this program!
My Tools 4 Care
My Tools 4 Care was developed to help you as a care partner as you care for a person living with dementia in the community.
My Tools 4 Care - In Care
This is a toolkit to help you as a care partner prepare for possible changes or events, so you can support your family member with dementia in care. “In care” means receiving 24-hour care in a facility, for example, long-term care.
Brain Health - Education Series
Act Today to Protect Tomorrow
La trousse du proche aidant - En établissement de soins de longue durée
Il s’agit d’un document conçu pour vous aider à vous préparer, comme proche aidant, en vue des changements ou des événements éventuels, afin de pouvoir prendre soin d’un membre de votre entourage vivant avec la maladie d’Alzheimer ou une maladie apparentée. « En établissement de soins de longue durée » renvoie à tous les milieux de vie destinés à des personnes âgées en perte d’autonomie, lesquels incluent des services et des soins.
Live Events and Meetings
More meetings coming soon!
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Exploring Nutrition Care: How Dietitians Can Support You on Your Journey Through Alzheimer's Disease Presented by Kristin Hruschak
Sexual Expressions - Learning New Ways to Cope Presented by Natalie Wilton
Practical Strategies for Understanding Sexual Expressions Presented by Natalie Wilton
Ask Us Anything Home Care Panel Presentation!
Exploring Nutrition Care Along the Journey Through Alzheimer's Disease Presented by Kristen Hruschak
Alberta Health Advocates and how they can work for you! Presented by Ryan Bielby
Health Link Dementia Advice Line Program
Lewy Body Disease in Aging and Dementia
The Music Advantage: Improve Mood, Memory and Motivation
Being prepared for the hospital - emergency to inpatient
Yoga for Aging Well
Optimizing Supportive End-of-Life Care for Frail Older Adults Living with Dementia in Long-Term-Care
Rest Easy: Sleeping, remembering, and aging well
"Ask Us Anything!" Presentation with Stephanie Dziedzic and Jeannine Chemello
Indigenous Ways of Knowing about Dementia - Some lessons from the Gitxsan Perspective
Music and Wellness: how to use music effectively in caregiving and in self-care
Creating Safer Spaces for Gender Diversity in Long-Term Care Homes.
Home Care - How does it all work?
Alzheimer's Disease is a life-limiting illness with a terminal phase
"Ask Us Anything!" Presentation with Dr. Bill Gibson & Arlene Huhn
Supporting 2SLGBTQI+ Seniors with Dementia/Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Canadian Context
Emergency Preparedness with the Hon. Lisa Raitt
Minds in Motion® - Activities for the home!
Creating a Life Story
Understanding Dementia - Tips and Techniques
Demystifying Neuropsychology presented by Dr. Robert Frerichs
Dementia, Depression, Diabetes, a 3D Presentation presented by Dr. Leon Kagan
Demystifying Neuropsychology presented by Dr. Robert Frerichs
Resilience in the Face of a Pandemic: Practical Strategies for the Health and Wellbeing of Caregivers presented by Dr. Sienna Caspar
Unraveling Capacity Assessment presented by Dr. Jasneet Parmar
How do you evaluate information about dementia research that you find on the web? Presented by Dr. David Hogan
The Art and Science of Mindful Aging presented by Dr. Thamarai Moorthy
Adopt Routines for Better Brain Health
Watching and Listening - Finding Enjoyable Ways to Spend Time Together
Maintaining the Connection - Successful and Meaningful Visits with Individuals Living with Dementia
Newer considerations in the care of people with Alzheimer's disease
Constructing Family Biographies When Living with Dementia
Feeling's of Needs and Expression's
Holiday Tips and Self Care
Bladder health for people living with dementia
Restoring Trust: COVID-19 and the Future of Long Term Care and your Impact Evaluation Report
Life during a pandemic: supporting well-being for all
Successful Communication Strategies to Help Support a Person Living with Dementia
Exercise and Brain health: It's never too late!
The Importance of Planning Ahead
Online Sing-Along of the Classic's with Sara Brooks
The Importance of Oral Hygiene for People Living with Dementia
Creating a Meaningful Life: Recreation for people with dementia
The Importance of Music for People Living with Dementia and Care Partners
Taking Care of You: Anticipatory Grief, Ambiguous Grief, and the Importance of Self-Care
Loneliness & Seniors - Much More Serious Than You Think
AS AB/NT Board Meeting Update
Dementia Ambassador Focus Group
Break & Learn - Shaw Phone System Training
Break & Learn - Walk Donation Management
Volunteer Management
Break & Learn - Cognitive Assessment's
Michele AS AB/NT Strategic Update 2020
Board Meeting
The Alberta Employers Dementia Awareness Advisory Committee
NWT Ambassador Training
Board Orientation 2019
Consumer Tracking Webinar
Alzheimer Society Board Meeting
Virtual Gym Webinar
Saskatchewan Facilitator Training: Part 2
Get More From Your Doctor's Visits
Saskatchewan Facilitator Training: Part 1
Understanding Financial Reports
First Link/E-Tap Meeting
First Link Meeting/E Tapestry Meeting
Common Issues Care Partners Experience
Late Stage: Growing Seeds of Hope Session 1
Late Stage: Taking Care of You, Grief and Self Care Session 5
Late Stage: Maintaining the Connection Session 4
Baycrest: Brain Health Food Guide!
Canadian Brain Health Food Guide from Baycrest Health Sciences
Late Stage: Preparing for Changes Ahead Session 3
Late Stage: Working with Care Providers Session 2
What Matters Most!
Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia: How We Can Help?
Speak Up! Advocacy Skills for Caregivers
Nova Scotia FCES Session 6 - Responding to Changing Care Needs
Nova Scotia FCES Session 5 - Understanding Dementia Behaviour
Nova Scotia FCES Session 4 - Care for the Caregiver
Nova Scotia FCES Session 3 - Day to Day Living
Depression and Care Partner Burnout
Nova Scotia FCES Session 2 - Financial, Legal and Personal Care Planning
Nova Scotia FCES Session 1- Overview of Dementia
Solving Alzheimer's disease: A search for the Holy Grail!
Early Stage: Planning Ahead Session 4
Roger Marple Live Meeting
Early Stage: Understanding Dementia Session 3
Early Stage: You as a Care Partner Session 2
Be Ready for an Emergency Department Visit
Early Stage: Exploring the Experience of Dementia Session 1
Hinton Presentation
Resources
What educational materials and emotional support are available?
The Alzheimer Society in your community can provide educational resources to help you learn more about the disease, referrals to help you access the practical support you need, and one-on-one and group support to help you cope with the emotional impact of the disease. Contact your local Alzheimer Society. Alternatively, try typing your question into the search bar above.
Is there anyone or anything that can give me a break in caregiving?
Ask family members and friends for their help and support. Take advantage of community programs that provide respite and relief from caregiving, practical help with meals or housework and assistance with the care of the person with Alzheimer's disease. And plan ahead for both the immediate future and the long term. These are just some of the things care partners can do to make their lives a bit easier.
Contact your local Alzheimer Society for help connecting to services such as support groups, counseling and information resources. Use the search bar above to find a Community Care Access office of Alberta Health Services close to you. They can provide information about publicly funded respite options.
What are some quick facts on dementia in Canada?
Dementia Numbers in Canada
By 2030, researchers project that nearly 1 million people in Canada will be living with dementia. And they forecast that more than 1.7 million people in Canada will have dementia by 2050.
- As of January 1, 2024, we estimate that 733,040 people in Canada are living with dementia.
- Every day, more than 350 people in Canada develop dementia. This is more than 15 every hour.
- By 2030, nearly 1 million people in Canada could live with dementia.
- This would be 187,000 new cases a year, 512 a day and 21 an hour, by 2030. Canada could have a 51% increase in the number of new dementia cases a year (Compared to 2020).
- By 2030, the number of people in Canada living with dementia could increase 65% compared to 2020. (From 597,300 to 990,600.)
- 20,000+ Canadians will develop dementia every month in the 2040s.
- By 2050, more than 1.7 million people in Canada could have dementia.
- This would mean, by 2050, 685 people will be diagnosed each day with dementia in Canada, or 29 every hour.
- 6.3 million people in Canada will develop, live with and/or ultimately die with dementia between 2020 and 2050.
Caregiving and Dementia in Canada
- Care partners of older adults with dementia provide 26 hours of care a week, on average. This compares to 17 hours a week for older adults with other health issues. (Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information)
- Every year, family and friends provide more than 470 million hours of care to people living with dementia. This is equivalent to 235,000 full-time jobs.
- Dementia care provided by family and friends in 2022 would equal more than $7.3 billion dollars in Canada alone.
- By 2050, Canada will have more than 1 million care partners for people living with dementia. The care they provide will equal more than 1.4 billion hours per year, or 690,000 full-time jobs.
- The number of care partners would nearly triple (188% increase) over 30 years (2020 to 2050).
- 45% of care partners for seniors living with dementia show symptoms of distress. The distress rate for care partners of seniors with other health conditions is almost half that (26%). (Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information)
The recommendations section of The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada report contains further recommendations for Alzheimer societies, governments, healthcare systems, and researchers.