Hello, Reader!

We hope this newsletter finds you well. Take some time to read through the content and implement some of these tricks into your daily life. If you have feedback or suggestions on content you would like to see, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

During this time we are still available for education, support and referrals. You can reach us by email or by calling 613-962-0892.

We also invite you to keep checking and sharing the online portal http://on.alz.to/ConnectionsHastings to learn about upcoming online events and programs. You will also be able to catch up on any newsletters you may have missed.

If you don't want to receive this weekly newsletters for the time being but you want to continue to receive our monthly edition please reply to this email and let us know

ASHPE Social Hour

Make yourself comfortable, grab a cup of coffee or tea and join some of the Alzheimer Society of Hastings – Prince Edward staff and peers online to say ‘hello’ and let us know how you and your loved ones are doing.

You can join us online or using your home phone!

Held every Monday - Friday from 3pm - 4pm.

ASHPE Programming

Did you know?

We are still offering our support groups and memory cafes on the same schedule. All you need is a telephone or internet connection to join!

Our landing page is updated daily to include our schedule as well as other Alzheimer Society events across Ontario that you can join from the comfort of your home. You can visit the landing page by clicking here.

If you are interested in receiving education and support please reach out to us:

Belleville & Area: [email protected]

Centre Hastings: [email protected]

North Hastings: [email protected]

Prince Edward County & Tyendinaga: [email protected]

Quinte West & Brighton: [email protected]

If you are a new client or are looking for general information please contact our

First Link Coordinators:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Want Activities to do at Home?

The Alzheimer Society Hastings - Prince Edward is now offering free in-home activity kits that can be mailed right to your door. Kits include an assortment of printed worksheet activities that are sure to delight and engage your brains! If there anything else you need during these difficult times, please reach out to us.

We now have a second kit ready! Fill out the form below if you are ready for your next package!

Resources

Online First Link Learning Series: First Steps

An introductory series that focuses on understanding & supporting a person living with dementia. This series covers learning about dementia, adapting to changes in the brain, enhancing communication, assessing and managing risk and planning ahead.

Aimed at: Persons living with dementia and caregivers

A four part course offered via Zoom starting June 11th

Email Sharon Brewster to register or learn more.

Webinar: Long Distance Caregiving

This webinar will focus on providing care partners with strategies to providing care while in isolation. It will also highlight important COVID-19 precautions and guidelines along with the implications in caring for someone living with dementia.

Upcoming sessions: June 9.

Click here to register.

Music Therapy Group

This program is designed to support health and wellbeing through the purposeful use of music and the therapeutic benefits it can offer. We invite you to start off your week by joining certified Music Therapist, David Macintosh to sing, dance, move, breathe, discuss, and reflect.

Sessions will run from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM for the following dates:

• June 1

• June 8

• June 15

• June 22

• June 29

Please register to receive the Zoom link to participate. Click here to register for June 1.

Webinar: Dementia, Delirium and Depression

On Thursday, May 28 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, we will be learning about the 3 Ds and discussing strategies to help you provide support to the person you are caring for when they are experiencing any of these conditions. The outcome is to define the difference between the 3 Ds, identify the risks factors and causes, and understand the importance of accurate identification of the 3 Ds. This webinar is for family caregivers related to a person with dementia.

To register, go to our online learning site at www.alzeducate.ca and follow these steps:

• Step 1: Access your Options

• Step 2: Create an Account

• Step 3: Enrol in a webinar

Crosswords

The Internet has been a treasure trove of engaging and unique activities to do at home during COVID-19. Take time for yourself with an online crossword. The beauty is there is a good selection available and you can take your time or even enlist help if you get stuck 😉 Click here to get started!

Good News Shared

Most people find a lot of joy being in the presence of animals and research has shown that one’s mood can improve when surrounded by a pet. Unfortunately, we may not be able to see our furry loved ones at the moment, so head on over to Good News Shared to fill your heart with warming stories of amazing animals.

Click here to immerse yourself in feel good stories!

Guidance Documents from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

Visit their website here for alerts, FAQs and additional resources.

Resources

We are only a few days away from Canada’s first Online IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s - Sunday May 31st!

This will be the largest online walk in support of dementia in Canada!

While we can’t physically walk together right now for our local IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, we can still connect virtually and have fun as a group online! We have brought our community together and are now virtually walking online for the Hastings-Prince Edward & Brighton area at : http://www.alzgiving.ca/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=2972 . May 31st will kick off this summer long campaign and encourage local teams and individuals to get involved however they can. The online fundraising page will remain open until at least the end of August to allow folks to keep fundraising all season!.

Locally we have people who are pledging to dye their hair blue, others walking 1000 steps, and others doing things like 250 jumping jacks – or simply just starting a challenge to see who can raise the most on their team. It’s so fun to see folks getting creative, and coming together online during these difficult times. We have activities you can do to show your support like colouring sheets, window signs, Facebook Frames, shareable graphics and more. Please send in your photos and videos, and use the hashtag #IGWalkForAlz to show others how you are supporting your local Alzheimer Society!

Please note - new donation options: The Alzheimer Society of Hastings-Prince Edward can also now accept E-transfers in support of online walkers (contact Amelia Huffman at [email protected] for more details), or we can do a batch e-transfer for any cash donations collected pre-covid that need receipts.  Cheques can also be mailed to the office (470 Dundas St E, Belleville Ontario K8N 1G1) and added to an online walkers total online (as long as a note is included indicating who it is in support of). We will also be able to coordinate cash pick-ups and drop offs as needed as we move forward.

Tips for Care Partners

Be Kind to Yourself

Sounds easy enough, right? The truth is, we often don’t make time for ourselves or acknowledge the act of being kind to ourselves because we get busy – but you’re not alone. We have put together a few ideas to help you find the time to be kind to yourself.

Make Time

Do you only have 5 minutes to spare in the day? Use this time to reflect and remind yourself of all the good that you are.

Expectations

Set a realistic goal for yourself. When you set a goal that you can achieve, you will feel accomplished.

Write

We all carry a lot on our minds, seemingly now more than ever. Off load your thoughts by writing. It can be as long or as short as you need, but inevitably you will feel lighter.

Boundaries

Setting boundaries is the ultimate form of self-kindness.

Surrender

Is something not going your way? Are you having a bad day? Surrendering to the problem can sometimes be the best solution. Not only will you save your energy, but by shifting focus, you are truly being kind to yourself.

Help ASHPE win up to $5000 from the McDougall Insurance & Financial Family Fund Contest!

You can vote daily from May 19th – 31st at https://binkd.co/FMjSp (must be a Facebook user).

Every vote gets ASHPE one step closer to winning

$2000, $3000 or $5000! 

What is the McDougall Family Fund Contest?

This is the 7th year of our McDougall Family Fund Contest! $5,000 will go to the first place winner, $3,000 to second and $2,000 to third! That means they will be awarding a total of $10,000 to local charities, non-profit organizations or community projects. You do not need to be a McDougall Insurance client to enter! They are doing things are a little bit different this year because of the COVID-19 virus. Each year McDougall select our top ten videos and let the public vote for the winner. This year, every video submission received will be eligible for the contest, they are not narrowing it down to just 10 entries, which means we need your help even more this year!  

Dementia Friendly Community Training

is now Available Online!

Let's talk about Dementia Awareness Training for your organization, service or business.

What do participants gain from the training?

Get in touch with program coordinator Deborah Hierlihy to learn more

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 613-476-2085

What do you see from your window?

This Facebook group contains people connecting from 143 countries sharing the views out their window. Click here to view the photos and join the Facebook group.

Music Trivia Match Up

Hi I'm Hannah!

Hi, my name is Hannah Foxall and I am Program and Fund Development Coordinator at ASHPE.

I do a bit of everything around the office, including creating this e-newsletter. I help coordinate fundraising and client events, which I love! I also work with a team of amazing office volunteers doing administrative duties and another team of wonderful volunteers for our book sales. You can spot me all over the place... in the Bay View Mall pushing a massive cart of donated books, at the front desk playing receptionist, at the Picton office, or out in the community with an awareness booth or collecting donations from our supporters!

You can reach out to me at [email protected] or 613-962-0892

Come back next week to learn about someone else on the ASHPE Team!

Sincerely ,

The staff at Alzheimer Society of Hastings-Prince Edward