I am a caregiver or a family member involved
Helping a loved one implies devotion and care. The role of the caregiver can become emotionally demanding and time consuming since it causes a degree of concern depending on how the illness progresses. In order to begin your role as a caregiver and be able to be at your best, many resources are available.
Resources, activities, meetings and workshops are offered to those who must deal with the effects of a loved one’s illness. Among other things, we give you the opportunity to discuss with other caregivers, develop a relationship based on mutual trust and better understand the disease so that you and your loved one can go through this ordeal with strength and unity.
The “Ressource Moi” program is designed for caregivers and family members who want to develop strategies to reduce their stress and anxiety in order to deal with situations that can generate strong emotions.
This program helps to refocus the participants on strong emotions, intuition and communication to stimulate emotional memory.
If it is true that our brain can influence our heart rate, it is also true to say that the rate of our heartbeat influences our brain. By controlling our heart rate through breathing exercises, it is possible to balance our nervous system. This is called cardiac coherence.
During 2 to 12 individual meetings given by a certified service worker, you could monitor your level of cardiac coherence by computer.
HOW DO THE MEETINGS TAKE PLACE?
Each meeting last 45 minutes. During the first appointment, the service worker identifies your needs and your personal objectives. He assesses your current situation and provides a health check-up. He observes your basic cardiac coherence level in stressful situations.
The following meetings aim to apply cardiac coherence methods by performing computer-assisted breathing exercises. You will learn to integrate these simple exercises in your daily life so that your heart is in sync with your mind.
Inform
the participants on how the brain works
Teach
memorization techniques and exercises
Develop
participants’ knowledge through stimulating games
Encourage
social interaction
Do
physical activity to oxygenate the brain
Cognitive stimulation workshops are intended for seniors and people in the early stages of Alzheimer who want to keep their brain healthy. They are also for people who want to socialize in a friendly environment while improving their skills to gain, maintain and process information using a computer program.
The program “BrainHQ” is known to decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other related diseases by 30%. In addition, it is known to allow safer driving and reduce symptoms associated to depression.
Requirement: You must have followed the program “Memory Workout”
WORKSHOPS FOR CAREGIVERS
PURPOSE
Better understand the Alzheimer’s disease and its medical aspects. Learn to communicate, establish a relationship based on trust and support in a favourable environment.
CONTEXT
• Groups of 10-12 participants
• 3-hour workshops over 3 consecutive weeks
• Mandatory registration (fall and spring)
• Evening program also available
WHAT DO WE TALK ABOUT IN THE WORKSHOPS?
WEEK 1
• Presentation of the Alzheimer Society
• Better understand the disease
WEEK 2
• Towards a person-centred approach
WEEK 3
• Communication with someone with Alzheimer
• Useful activity ideas
ALZHEIMER COACHING
PURPOSE
Develop the caregiver’s sense of competence.
REQUIREMENTS
• Must have completed the caregivers workshop (previous workshop)
• Attend a 30-minute individual meeting (in person or by phone) to determine your needs, challenges and motivation.
• Be aware of the coaching program in detail and commit to being present at the 10-12 meetings.
CONTEXT
• 2-hour meetings
• Groups of 5 to 7 participants
• Fall or spring workshops
• One meeting per month
THEMES COVERED
1. Defining the role of the caregiver
2. Feeling of guilt
3. Better daily communication
4. Cognitive stimulation
5. Better understanding of confusing behaviour
6. Understanding domestic contract
7. Resilience
8. Self-care
9. Relaxation techniques, meditation and cardiac coherence
10. Better understanding of changes
11. Accommodation
12. Ambiguous loss
ACTIVITY COORDINATION
PURPOSE
Develop activity coordinating skills to incorporate daily leisure activities.
CONCEPT
Group coaching and one-on-one intervention if necessary.
THEMES COVERED
• Increasing the quality of life
• Validating the potential of loved ones
• Climate-centred leisure approach
• Adjustment principles
• Communication techniques
• Life story (emotional memory)
• Daily activities
ACTIVITY COORDINATING IN ASSISTED-LIVING RESIDENCES
PURPOSE
Offer a variety of entertainment in assisted-living residences for people with Alzheimer’s.
CONTEXT
• Group of 15 to 20 people with Alzheimer’s
• Duration: 90 minutes
COST
• 100$ per activity
INCLUDED
• Trained coordinator
• Activity coordinating material
• Travel expenses
It is possible to purchase an activity coordinating material kit for $500 (member) or $550 (non-members).
The assisted-living residence agrees to have one or more patient attendants supervising the group throughout the activity.
Healthcare and social service professionals who work with people with Alzheimer’s disease.
GENERAL PURPOSES
• Shatter the myths and stigma associated with Alzheimer’s disease
• Be aware of warning signs, risk factors and causes of Alzheimer’s disease
• Develop a human and professional approach toward people with Alzheimer’s disease
• Allow participants to understand the philosophy behind the Quebec Alzheimer movement and see where they stand in relation to these principles
• Understand the reality of people with Alzheimer’s disease
• Learn the steps of diagnosis, the stages of cognitive decline and possible treatments
We also offer several specialized workshops to improve your knowledge related to Alzheimer and the health-care system.
Reserve early as places are limited. For reservation please call at 450 777-3363.
Inform the population
of the reality behind people with Alzheimer’s disease or other related diseases
Share information
about the disease and technological advances that may provide a cure
Support people
who have cognitive difficulty, their caregivers and their families
OUR PUBLIC AWARENESS TOOLS
Annual conference
Annual conference
Each year, the SAGR organizes an annual conference. Guest speakers are invited to talk to you about different topics related to the disease.
Community outreach
Community outreach
The SAGR offers information workshops to present its services, inform the population about the disease and organize prevention activities, which can all be given publicly or in companies.
Alz-Info newsletter
Alz-Info newsletter
The Alzheimer Society of Granby and region publishes its Alz-Info newsletter three times per year.
Conferences
Conferences
The SAGR has abundant resources to inform you about the disease and its treatments, the services it offers to people with Alzheimer including their loved ones and technological advances that may provide a cure.
Our support services
Do you want to talk to a service worker? It is possible to do this at our offices, on the phone or at home. You will be able to discuss your situation and get all the necessary information that concern you.
This service is offered to the loved ones and caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease. It is also possible to organize meetings with many people.
PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER AND THEIR LOVED ONES
If you have just received the diagnosis, we recommend that you contact us for information, guidance about our services and, above all, support.
We also invite you to consult our resource centre and the one from Canada Alzheimer Society to find answers to frequently asked questions.
Respite and stimulation
This bilingual service of cognitive stimulation activities is offered to people with Alzheimer’s disease or other related cognitive diseases.
Caregivers can get some relief while the person with Alzheimer participates in stimulation workshops given by trained individuals.
Participants must be able to move around on their own or with the help of a walker, maintain continence and be responsive to stimuli.
For more information and to know the dates of the next activities, please contact us at 450 777-3363.
Granby
Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cowansville
Monday to Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bedford
Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sutton
Fridays (every two weeks): 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Improving the quality of life
The Alzheimer Society promotes an approach based on sharing and respect. Its focus is on maintaining the dignity and quality of life of those affected by the disease in every possible way. We believe that quality of life is first and foremost increased through communication and social interactions.
“À la découverte de vos stimuli”, an activity developed by professor, researcher and recreational therapist Hélène Carbonneau, PhD, offers tools to people with Alzheimer and their caregivers to improve their quality of life.
There are 10 workshops and last 2 hours each.
During the first hour, activity coordinators assist you in creating stimulating activities with your loved one.
The second hour is devoted entirely to you. Assisted by a social worker, you will have the opportunity, as a group, to go back on the activity, to share your observations, to improve your knowledge on memory disorders and increase your activity ideas for your next visit with your loved one.
Main objectives of these meetings: strengthen the bonds between the caregivers and the people affected by the disease, equip the caregivers, stimulate people with memory disorders, convey useful information, break down the isolation, experience moments of happiness.
Possible activities: cooking in groups, Olympiads, mosaics, scrapbooking, music and zoo therapy.