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 June.
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," said Dorothy Leclair, one of the society's support and education coordinators for the North Fraser region.
"With this new understanding caregivers become empowered and they are ultimately more resilient on the dementia journey," adds Lori Kelly, the society's other support and education coordinator for the area.
Topics to be covered in the 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.
Planning for the future.
The series runs on Saturdays, Jun. 22 and Jul. 6 (no session on Jun. 29), from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Greystone Manor (11657 Ritchie Ave., Maple Ridge). Pre-registration is required. For information and to register contact Leclair or Kelly at 604-298-0780 or [email protected] or [email protected].
The workshops are free, thanks to partial funding by the Province of B.C., Provincial Employees Community Services Fund, the Frank and Yvonne McCracken Foundation, the Lohn Foundation and the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation. Alzheimer's disease and other dementias affect approximately one of every 11 people aged 65 or older. For more information, visit www.alzheimerbc.org.
