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.

Resources

Online Video Art class with ASHPE's Petra Lepage!

Friday May 22nd 10am-11am

Create your own magic flowers painting. No previous artistic talent is needed to enjoy this activity. The supplies needed are:

1. 9x12 paper or cardboard

2. Watercolour paints and acrylic paints

3. Glitter (if available)

4. Q-tips (5-8 secured together by tape or elastic) and other to be used individually

5. Wine corks or round shapes that can be used to create circles (Small round lids, kitchen sponge cut into round shapes, bingo dabber)

6. Paint brushes or foam brushes in various widths

All of these supplies are available at the Dollarama (which is still open).

Click here to email Petra to sign up or ask any questions.

Scavenger Hunt

The Internet has a treasure trove of engaging and unique activities to do at home during COVID-19. Stay connected with your family and or friends by hosting an online scavenger hunt! We have included a link listing items to be found around the house. The best part about it is you get to be creative and add to it to make it more engaging and personal. For example, set time limits – 30 seconds – to find 5 things in the house that have an animal on it. Feel free to give bonus points for the more exotic or entertaining the animal is.

Click here to get you started!

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.

Thoughtful Dementia Care: Understanding the Dementia Experience

an Ebook by Jennifer Ghent-Fuller

An easy-to-read and sensitive portrayal of the changing world of people with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease or other diseases, and those who care for them. Offers insights into emotional reactions and practical suggestions based on deep understanding of the way people with dementia view many situations. Click here to view the ebook.

Guidance Documents from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

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

Resources

How are YOU making your move for the Online IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s May 31st!?

Alzheimer Society Dementia Friendly Communities Coordinator Deborah Hierlihy is walking her way by walking 1000 stair steps in support of her fundraising goal. Deborah walked up and down stairs around Picton – can you recognize the locations?

Click here to sign up today and support the Alzheimer Society of Hastings-Prince Edward or by visiting www.walkforalzheimers.ca (and selecting Ontario then Hastings-Prince Edward), or visiting our website www.alzheimer.ca/hpe to learn more.

While we can’t physically walk together right now, we can still connect virtually and have fun as a group! Do a dance, walk the stairs, jump rope, walk around the block. Challenge friends, family, neighbours and co-workers to join you online and let’s show the world that our connections matter.

On May 31st, supporters across the country will come together online to Walk and raise funds in support of their local Alzheimer Society. PLUS an exciting live stream video event will begin at 12 pm EST at www.walkforalzheimers.ca. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlzheimerSocietyHPE to stay up to date and see how people are supporting the online walk in our area.

Tips for Care Partners

Quick Stress Relieving Techniques

As we continue to navigate our way through these uncertain times, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed, which can lead to feeling more stressed than we are used to. We have put together some ‘sense’ focused techniques to allow you to destress.

1. SIGHT

2. SMELL

3. TOUCH

4. TASTE

5. MOVEMENT

6. SOUND

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

Voting opens TODAY. 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

My Day in the Big Leagues

written by Al Murphy

Jack Tretton ( Sony Corporation, Modesto, California)

& Al Murphy ( Moore Business Forms, Toronto, Ontario)

Someone once said you can’t dream in colour. Well, I beg to differ! On August 25, 1998, I had an amazing dream, and it was in vivid colour all day long, and it remains so to this very day!

My colourful journey began with an invitation to attend the first annual Blue Jays’ Fantasy Camp at the Skydome (now the Rogers Centre) in Toronto. The Blue Jays organization, as a token of fan appreciation, invited a group of current and former SkyBox tenants to select an employee of their choice to attend the one day camp. Being a former SkyBox tenant, my employer, Moore Business Forms, received an invite and to my pleasant surprise, offered me the opportunity of a lifetime, to attend and represent the company. I remember August 25th, 1998 oh so well! My day in the big leagues began at 9:15 a.m. when I arrived at the Dome to be greeted by Skydome management and staff, who escorted me to the dressing room, where I was introduced to other guests.

My custom-made uniform hung in a locker that bore my name. I had chosen to wear number 12 in honour of my favourite softball player. When I descended from the clouds and my feet finally touched the ground, I dressed quickly and made my way to the playing field. The first thing that struck me was the enormity of the Dome from the dugout level. To say that I was awestruck would be an understatement. Just sitting in the Blue Jays’ dugout looking out on my ‘field of dreams’ was an unbelievable thrill.

Prior to the on-field activities, we were asked to gather around the pitching mount where we were greeted by Gord Ash, Jays’ General Manager, and broadcasters Buck Martinez, Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth.  

Each invitee was allowed to have 2 special guests attend and sit in the stands. My son, Devin (from Winnipeg), and my brother, Gus, joined me throughout the day and as a group, we sat and watched the regular baseball game that evening between the Blue Jays and the Kansas City Royals, courtesy of the Jays’ organization. 

Earlier in the day the Blue Jays’ coaching staff coordinated batting, fielding and pitching practices - outfield and infield tips were passed along - all to prepare us for the ‘big event’ - the game itself. Yes, we participated in an exhibition game with all the amenities of the real thing - television, jumbotron scoreboard and the regular Blue Jays announcer called the game. To walk up to home plate for the first time and then hear my name announced amid a din of electronically created crowd noise, and see my image on the giant jumbotron was a huge thrill - but then to hear “now batting for the Blue Jays, the second baseman, number 12, Allllll Murphyyyyy,” sent chills down my spine. Regular umpires from the American Baseball League, in town for the official evening game, officiated.

Each guest was later sent a video recording of the game and it clearly shows my line drive base hit over second base in the third inning. Incidentally, the pitchers were members of the invited guests and not the real thing. Unfortunately, I was picked off of first base as I was caught just looking around and daydreaming. It was only from watching the video did I realize the final score of the game. It didn’t matter if my team lost. Just being there on my ‘field of dreams’ was the most important thing.

(Left to Right)  Carlos Delgado, Al Murphy & Felipe Crespo

Following the game, we toured the Skydome and later attended a reception where we met several Jays’ players. The formal part of the day ended with a photo and autograph session. Before departing, each guest was presented with their custom uniform as a permanent souvenir of the event. My uniform is still proudly displayed in my home. 

And if you’re wondering who my favourite softball player was then, and still is to this day. Well, he was the second baseman, wearing Number 12, on the Belleville, ON, Peewees (The Bert Jones Boys) that won the All-Ontario Softball Championship in 1986. He is my son, Devin.

Now, who says you can’t dream in colour?

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 Lorraine!

Hi, my name is Lorraine Ross and I am an Education & Support Coordinator with the ASHPE, working out of the Picton office. I love my job! So much so that when I was being interviewed for this position and asked why I should be hired, I said because I am very passionate about helping seniors and their families. Oh, and I started crying, true story. I work with an amazing team, who are always there to help. The position offers me a lot of variety, which keeps me on my toes!

You can reach out to me at [email protected] or 613-476-2085

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

Sincerely ,

The staff at Alzheimer Society of Hastings-Prince Edward