Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Every January, Alzheimer Societies across Canada raise awareness around key issues, including diagnosis, stigma, caregiving and support. Our local chapter, the Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton provides programs and support services to assist people living with all forms of dementia. This includes the most common type, Alzheimer’s disease. To learn more, check out their website at www.alzheimer.ca/sarnialambton

The County of Lambton Long-Term Care Division is proud to provide services and supports for people living with all types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s.

The Adult Day Programs, located in Sarnia and Petrolia, provide a wide range of physical and cognitive activities that keep the body and mind stimulated. They also provide respite and support to caregivers.

The Manor, The Villa and The Lodge provide individualized care and support to Elders living in the Homes. A specialized team of staff provide additional support through our Internal Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) team. This includes Social Workers, Registered Nurses & Registered Practical Nurses, Personal Support Workers and Recreation & Leisure staff. This team works with Elders living in the Homes who present with or are at risk for responsive behaviours. Many responsive behaviours are due to changes in the brain resulting in cognitive impairment and several conditions can cause cognitive impairment, including dementia. To learn more, check out the Behavioural Supports Ontario website at www.behaviouralsupportsontario.ca

Staff working in the Homes and Adult Day Programs are offered specialized training to assist them when supporting and caring for people living with cognitive impairments, including dementia. Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) is an innovative dementia care workshop based on a person-centred care approach and offered by GPA Certified Coaches. The Manor, The Villa and The Lodge are now offering GPA Certified Coach training to staff members. This ensures we have coaches available to teach who have experience with the Elders in our Homes and a better understanding of the challenges staff experience.

We encourage everyone to learn more about dementia and its impact on Canadians. Awareness is the first step to change!