e-Newsletter - September 2020 |
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Can you help us raise funds for the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County in honour of World Alzheimer's Day?
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WHAT
Coffee Break® is one of the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County's annual fundraisers where our community raises funds to support the programs and services we offer to people throughout Simcoe County living with or affected by dementia. This year Coffee Break® will take place during the month of September and into October.
HOW
This year, we are appealing to businesses where people can purchase a cup of coffee, and individuals or organizations who are able to host Coffee Break® events either in-person (with proper physical distancing protocols or within your social bubble), or online. Individual hosts and small organizations can be provided with a donation box. Regardless of who or how you host, the goal is to encourage donations and enjoy being social in a safe manner!
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LEARN MORE OR REGISTER AT
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I would love to speak with you about it! Please reach out:
Katherine Breeson, Events Coordinator
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September is World Alzheimer's Month |
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Let’s Talk About Dementia
September 2020 marks the ninth World Alzheimer’s Month™, an international campaign to raise awareness of dementia and challenge stigma. This year’s campaign promotes the important messages that:
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more vital than ever that people continue to talk about dementia.
- Talking about dementia helps tackle the stigma, normalizes language and encourages people to find out more information, advice and seek help.
- People living with dementia and their carers have an equal right to respect and inclusion, and to diagnosis, quality care and treatment.
- Governments can reduce the human and economic impact of dementia by developing responses to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global action plan on the public health response to dementia by 2025.
By 2050, the number of people living with dementia around the world will have almost trebled to 152 million, making the disease one of the most significant health and social crises of the 21st century. Join the campaign and learn more. Visit www.worldalzmonth.org.
#LetsTalkAboutDementia and end the stigma that surrounds this disease!
To show your support for people living with dementia on World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21st, #GoBlueForAlz by wearing BLUE while you’re on your physically distanced walk, on your Zoom call, or lounging around the house. Be sure to share how you #GoBlueForAlz on social media by tagging us and using the hashtag!
You can also host a Coffee Break in support of the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County, or make a donation. Support people living with dementia on September 21st!
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Programs and Services Update |
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We know many of you, including our staff team, are looking forward to participating in in-person programs again. We are getting there! We’ve identified that many of our programs contain a moderate risk based on number of people, duration of program, intensity of activity and population served. Not to mention most take place in space provided to us by community partners. We have identified some strategies that will help to mitigate these risks, like smaller group sizes, and mandatory registration for all programs; however, in some cases more information is needed before we can proceed. And, of course, plans can change based on the current situation in Ontario.
While we are aiming for some in-person programs to resume later this fall, we want to ensure we take our time to get this right as the health and safety of our clients and staff is of utmost importance.
In the meantime, we continue to provide our programs and services by phone and online.
We are pleased to share that we will soon be offering “Musical Memories”, an online weekly 30 minute community music group facilitated by a Music Therapist from Music Therapy Services of Simcoe County. There is no cost to attend this program. We are aiming for an October start. Please contact our office for more information.
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10th Annual North Simcoe Muskoka Dementia Conference: Optimal Aging, Positive Health |
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This year the North Simcoe Muskoka Dementia Network is hosting a FREE virtual conference featuring speakers from the Fountain of Health and our local geriatric psychiatrist, Dr. Bingham. The conference is for any health care professional working with people who are living with dementia.
Speakers and dates/times are below. Register for one, two or all three presentations.
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Dr. Petal Abdool
The Fountain of Health Initiative: Promoting Brain Health and Wellness in Frontline Care
Wednesday, October 14
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
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Dr. Kathleen Bingham
Optimizing mental health for People living with dementia and care partners
Wednesday, October 21
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
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Dr. Keri-Leigh Cassidy
The Fountain of Health for Clinicians' Wellbeing
Wednesday, October 28
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
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10th Annual North Simcoe Muskoka Dementia Conference: Family Event |
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The Fountain of Health Initiative: Promoting Wellbeing Across the Lifespan |
Each year the North Simcoe Muskoka Dementia Network hosts an event for people living with dementia and their family partners in care as part of the annual dementia conference. This year's family event features Fountain of Health speaker, Dr. Paul Blackburn.
This year's event will be held virtually using Zoom on Tuesday, October 27 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
This is a FREE event.
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Guest Speaker:
Dr. Paul Blackburn
Tuesday, October 27
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
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FREE Activity Kits Available! |
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The Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County is thrilled to have received funding from the Canada Emergency Community Support Fund through the United Way Simcoe Muskoka to create and distribute activity kits to our clients! Kits are available for a range of abilities and interests and are meant to help keep people living with dementia engaged during this time of physical distancing.
Below are examples of kits available. Please note that kits may not be provided exactly as shown.
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Over the next few months, we will feature volunteers who are members of our Board of Directors. We hope this will give you a glimpse of the hard work done by these inspiring people and provide you with a new perspective on the scope of the work of the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County.
Ann-Marie Kungl, Chair, Board of Directors
Ann-Marie has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2013. She came to us with a strong background in many facets of health care, including positions at the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network and Community Care Access Centre (now Home and Community Care). Residents of Barrie, Ward 3, know her as their councillor.
Ann-Marie is involved in many aspects of community life in Barrie and is delighted to have been a part of the Board as it grew to include a group of individuals with a variety of skills from administration to finance. “This healthy and strong board understands their role of governance and has been able to view the challenges of COVID-19 through a strategic perspective to keep the work of the Society strong and outward-looking”. Ann-Marie takes great pride in the work of the Alzheimer Society and its outreach into the community.
Somehow, amidst all her activities, Ann-Marie finds time to garden and make salsa. Check her Twitter feed @annmariekungl
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Operational Recovery Plans |
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Please note that we have resumed our regular hours of operation, as follows:
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Staff take a lunch break between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m.
Staff have returned to work in the Barrie and Orillia offices on a scheduled basis, but we remain closed to the public. Over the coming weeks, we will be planning for our “new normal” in terms of the safe delivery of programs and services across Simcoe County. We hope to begin offering some in-person services again in the fall as appropriate, based on public health advice and Ministry of Health guidelines. We will keep you apprised as our plans are developed.
We continue to accept referrals and provide a full range of education, support services, and social programs online and by phone. Please contact us at 705-722-1066 or simcoecounty@alzheimersociety.ca for more information.
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Every gift you give makes a difference in the lives of families living with dementia in Simcoe County |
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Your generosity is the reason we are able to do what we do. Without the support of our community, we would not be in a position to continue to provide support and services to local families living with dementia. Your gifts have a huge impact! Here are a few of the things that your donation can do.
- A $25 gift will purchase a new book for our resource library. Our resource library offers a vast assortment of reading, audio and visual resources for people with dementia and their care partners.
- A $100 gift will purchase 4 new books designed for people with dementia. Picture books help people reminisce, as images are a very powerful way to access memories. There are many books that can help increase communication, whether it’s with relatives, care partners or friends.
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A $250 gift will allow 6 couples to attend Minds in Motion® or other social recreation programs, providing socialization and a creative outlet for clients and respite time for care partners.
- A $500 gift will cover the cost for six care partners to participate in a First Link® education series, gaining valuable information and strategies to support their loved ones.
For more information, please call us at 705-722-1066 x258
Charitable Registration Number: 11921 2116 RR0001
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