Dementia often brings about changes in behaviour and communication, which can dramatically affect family caregivers.
That's why the non-profit Alzheimer Society of B.C. is running its free Family Caregiver Series in Coquitlam in early April.
The two-session series provides practical coping strategies for family members who are caring for a person with dementia.
"It is through education that caregivers understand the disease and learn effective strategies to deal with changing communication and behaviours," says Dorothy Leclair, one of the society's Support and Education Coordinators for Coquitlam and the North Fraser region.
"With this new understanding caregivers become empowered and they are ultimately more resilient on the dementia journey."
Topics to be covered in the educational series include:
Understanding Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Effective and creative ways of facilitating communication with a person with dementia.
Problem-solving for responsive behaviours.
Self-care for the caregiver.
The series runs on Saturday, Apr. 6 and 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Glen Pine Pavilion, 1200 Glen Pine Court.
Pre-registration is required. For information and to register contact
Leclair or Lori Kelly at 604-298-0780, [email protected] or [email protected].
The workshops are free, thanks to partial funding by the province of B.C., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., RBC Foundation, Pfizer Canada Inc., Frank and Yvonne McCracken Foundation, Lohn Foundation and Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation.
Alzheimer's disease is the third-most feared disease for Canadians as they age and is the most common form of dementia. Approximately one of every 11 people aged 65 or older.
For more information on Alzheimer disease and other dementias that afflict the elderly, visit alzheimerbc.org.
