As Canada’s population of elderly individuals increase, there will be more people who will experience Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This can have a huge impact on the life of the person who was diagnosed, as well as their loved ones, who may be overwhelmed with the news and have to make adjustments to their lives. Here are some resources and programs that can help loved ones who are experiencing this.

On Learning about How the Illness works

1. Differentiating Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Learning the difference between Dementia and Alzheimer’s is really important in order to have clear communication with service providers and other people who are involved. Dementia is the term applied to a group of symptoms that negatively impact memory, but Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease of the brain that slowly causes impairment in memory and cognitive function. One useful article is: https://www.alzheimers.net/difference-between-alzheimers-and-dementia/
2. Alberta Health Services Health Link: Either online at https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/healthinfo/link/index.html or by calling 811, anyone needing information about Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease can get a wealth of information and where they can turn to for support.

On Support for Caregivers

1. Alzheimer Society Alberta and Northwest Territories: This organization provides aid for people who are supporting those suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. They have locations across the country, and you can find more information at https://alzheimer.ca/en/ab/About-us/alberta-offices
2. Brochure on Reducing Caregiver Stress: There is a user-friendly brochure and other resources that can help caregivers manage the strong emotions that come from caring for someone with the condition. You can find it at https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/We-can-help/Our-services/Support and it is called “Reducing Caregiver Stress”.

On Direct Support for the Person with the Condition

1. Database – Home Care: Many elderly people want to be as independent as possible and stay in their own homes for as long as they can, but they can benefit from help with getting certain tasks completed, such as cleaning their home or taking a bath. Homecare services can help with this. There are multiple resources to check out, such as https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/cc/Page15488.aspx
2. Seniors Groups in Edmonton: The Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council is a comprehensive database of groups and resources that serves the needs of seniors. The weblink is https://seniorscouncil.net/
   While this is in no way an exhaustive list, the goal is to encourage seeking information and assistance for any type of challenge, no matter how big or small, whether common or not. For any readers who are not directly served by the area where the outlined programs are listed, it is likely that equivalent resources are available by searching the topic and adding the name of your location.