 Alzheimer Society Podcasts Learn about the Road to Recovery- Dr. Paul Fraser |
Alzheimer Disease - 100 Years of Discovery
1906 - 2006
Alzheimer disease and other
dementing illnesses confound us.
We often do not know how to react or how to connect
with people who are experiencing challenges brought on by changes in the brain that they are personally
powerless to overcome. By better understanding how dementia affects the person with the illness we can hone our
own skills, stay connected and involved, with comfort and confidence. The Alzheimer staff can help
interested individuals from all walks of life to enhance their skill set.
"With the loss of communication
skills often comes the loss of social companionship, despite the fact that human attention is
craved and appreciated even during the bitter end of the disease".
Famed composer and conductor Aaron Copland
began to lose his memory in his 70's. He often had to be reminded where he was, forgot questions asked and
answers already given. He never lost his charm. Incredibly, and in spite of his growing confusion, he was
able to continue conducting well into his illness and conducted his famous "Appalachian Spring" up until the
very end of his life. When Copland's public career came to its end this famous composer suffered the plight
of so many persons with Alzheimer disease (and related dementias), social isolation, (The Forgetting).
Acquiring new insights, skills and abilities
help us remain connected to the person with the illness. This new learning allows us to best understand how the
illness is affecting our friend, family member or patient and assists us greatly in our attempts to offer the diagnosed
individual the quality of life we would wish, should we ever develop an incurable dementing disorder.
Providing compassionate care to persons with dementia
at end-of-life
While providing comfort and dignity to the person with Alzheimer disease is the
priority throughout the illness, it will be especially important during the late stage and end-of-life care.
In advanced and/or terminal stages of dementia, the person
is usually cared for at a long-term care home. During this stage, staff taking care of the person with dementia should focus
on enhancing the person's quality of life, rather than on postponing death. This approach to end-of-life care is known as
"palliative care," and its primary goal is to provide the person with medical, emotional, and spiritual comfort, so that
they can approach death in dignity and free from pain (Alzheimer's Care Guide Mar/Apr 2005).
Nursing assistants or personal support workers provide the
majority of direct care and spend most time with residents. While long-term care homes are providing end-of-life care to
increasing numbers of residents, staff in these settings are providing care to dying residents with little training or guidance
(Oliver et al, 2004).
The Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton, in collaboration
with the Halton Geriatric Mental Health Outreach Program, have developed 2 "fact sheets" and case discussions to assist staff
who provide care to persons with dementia who provide care to persons with dementia who are at the end-of-life. The first fact
sheet deals with issues around hydration and nutrition while the second one addresses pain management at the
end-of-life.
Fact sheet #1 – nutrition and hydration and dementia
Fact sheet #2 – pain management and dementia
The Education Team will help any who wish to
become better informed about dementing disorders. There are no 'silly' questions when it comes to cognitive changes
in someone you care about. It gives us great pleasure to help you better understand how these changes have impacted
the individual and, as a consequence, impacted you, the care giver.
Public
Education: A Key Society Role
The Alzheimer
Society, through education, seeks to provide individuals and groups from all walks
of life with the insight and tools they require to support persons directly and
indirectly affected by Alzheimer disease or a related dementia throughout the
entire course of the illness.
Through
the offering of educational opportunities the Society seeks to build your capacity to care, to cope
and to continue with confidence in your role with individuals with
dementia.
All members
of the Society’s staff and some of its volunteers, play a role in carrying out
its education mandate. However, specific staff roles focus on identified
communities of interest as follows.
·
The
Public Education Coordinator focuses on building public understanding
and awareness of dementia through formal and informal education of a variety of
community audiences (e.g. college & university students, community
volunteers, family caregiver groups, spiritual communities, youth groups, to
name just a few).
·
The
Halton Outreach Coordinator focuses on both
education and counseling within Halton region.
·
Psychogeriatric Resource Consultants educate and support staff in Long Term
Care facilities and other community settings
·
Counselors support persons with dementia and
family members, responding to inquiries via phone, e-mail, office and home
visits as appropriate.
·
The
Volunteer Coordinator specializes in the recruitment, education and
support of the Society’s many volunteers
·
Trained
Volunteer Information Presenters (VIP’s) compliment the work of public
education coordinators through community speaking engagements and staffing public
information displays throughout Hamilton and Halton.
The Alzheimer
Society of Hamilton and Halton provides a
comprehensive array of educational topics related to dementia and mental
health, and creates customized presentations for a wide variety of audiences.
Public
speaking and presentation topics include, but are not limited to the following:
·
Overview
of dementing disorders
·
Communication
issues
·
Responsive
(challenging) behaviours
·
Activation/reminiscence/drum
circle therapy
·
Stress
management for persons with dementia, caregivers and staff
·
the
relationships between Downs Syndrome and Alzheimer disease
·
End-
of-life considerations
·
and
so much more
Dementia-related
education takes place in a variety of settings, including:
·
a
client’s home
·
community
settings, e.g. health and wellness fares
·
long
term care and retirement facilities
·
college
s, Universities; learning academies
·
doctors’
offices
·
on
the phone, via e-mail
·
public
lectures
·
fundraisers
·
Alzheimer
Society Resource Lending Library (books, journals, videos, audio, brochures)
·
Alzheimer
Society Newsletter (for our members)
·
conferences
and publications
The Alzheimer
Society of Hamilton and Halton’s education team is
responsive and flexible. To maximize attendance levels, we encourage partnerships
among common communities of interest; for instance, church groups requesting a
Society speaker will often invite their neighbouring
faith communities as well.
CALL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND EDUCATION NEEDS.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP.
DIAL 905-529-7030
or toll free from
 |
Back to Top |