GOOD MESSAGE
People with Alzheimer’s have much to teach us if we listen
Columnist Catherine Shepherd says people with Alzheimer’s have much to teach us if we listen.
Another chance for us to get it right.
That’s how Oprah Winfrey has described the new year.
For me, this year will be another busy and rewarding one of helping Cape Bretoners living with dementia.
As education co-ordinator in Cape Breton for the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia, I talk to, meet and work with people across the island every day. I’ve been doing this for about five years, and it’s one of the things I enjoy most about my work.
I hope this column will be a bit like those one-on-one conversations. I want to talk about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia: the symptoms, strategies for living well, and how you can reduce your risk of developing the disease. Other topics that I also hope to cover – people ask me about them routinely – are strategies for living at home with dementia and support for caregivers.
These are just a few ideas. I hope you’ll suggest topics and ask questions. This is also a space to share your stories about family members and friends, and the memories you have of them.
One of the first things I want to say is that you are not alone. There are people in our island communities who can help. This is an important point that I share with people every day.
We have many programs and services available free of charge from the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia. One is our Alzheimer InfoLine, a confidential telephone service available province-wide. By calling InfoLine at 1-800-611-6345, you can talk to a society staff member available to provide support, information and referral to other services.
Other organizations across Cape Breton can also help when it comes to dementia support. For instance, the Cape Breton Dementia Network is a group of 10 to 15 health care organizations that meet regularly to
share information. Network members include professionals working in long-term care, the private sector, day programs and the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
By working together, we break down barriers, become more aware of what’s happening in our communities and make better uses of the resources we have available to us, whether they be support groups or other programs.
Awareness events are another great way to learn more and connect with others in the community.
January is Alzheimer Awareness Month in Nova Scotia and there’s an awareness breakfast next week in Sydney next week. (See the box with this column for details.)
Another reason for writing this column is to help reduce the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s.
It’s not easy living with dementia. But it’s important to know that life doesn’t end after a diagnosis. People can continue to live well. My approach, and that of the Alzheimer Society, is to work with people wherever they are on the dementia journey. I encourage people to acknowledge the past but not dwell on the way things used to be. As the condition progresses, people’s needs change and supports systems may also need to evolve.
It’s so important for people who live with dementia, and their partners in care, to feel that they have a voice and are heard. That’s why InfoLine exists. It’s also why the theme of this year’s Alzheimer Awareness Month is giving Nova Scotians who live with dementia a voice. They have much to teach us, if we’re open to listening.
This is a time of year when it’s worth taking the time to think about 2018. I hope that by working together, learning about resources and knowing help is available will provide positive and meaningful help.
Catherine Shepherd is the education coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia in Cape Breton. She lives in North Sydney and happily spends her day providing resources and support for people on the dementia journey. To reach the society, call toll-free 1-800-611-6345 or email alzheimer@asns.ca.