If you assemble three Creston residents in a room, chances are good one of them knows someone with Alzheimer’s disease. That’s how prevalent the disease has become, according to the non-profit Alzheimer Society of BC.
The statistics are more than just numbers. They represent local families who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias — people just like the 36 per cent of Canadians who know someone living with the disease.
To help Creston families, the society, in partnership with the Interior Health Authority, offers a one-day caregiver education seminar, Getting to Know Dementia, on May 15.
Participants will receive information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, the brain and treatment options. They will also learn about tools for effective, meaningful and rewarding communication with the person with dementia.
Community care nurses will conclude the day with a discussion on local services.
The workshop runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Creston and District Community Complex’s Kootenay Room. Registration is $20. To sign up, contact Kathleen at 250-428-8734.
Approximately one in 11 Canadians over the age of 65 has Alzheimer's disease or another dementia. According to the 2011 census, 33.1 per cent of the Creston population is aged 65 and over, compared with a national figure of 14 per cent.
Local caregivers coping with the impact of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias can get assistance by contacting the Dementia Helpline toll-free at 1-800-936-6033, Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
—ALZHEIMER SOCIETY OF BC