Tag: Care Partner

A favourite song, an inside joke, the way you take your coffee together. What would you put in a short film about a day in your life?

SPOUSES IN FRAME is a five-session program for people caring for a spouse or partner living with diagnosed or suspected cognitive impairment. You don’t need any filmmaking experience. If you’ve never recorded a video on your phone or have no idea how editing works, you’re welcome here.

Your facilitator, Chris Bell, is a social worker who spent 15 years writing, producing and editing for film and television. Through group and one-to-one sessions, Chris will help you find a starting point, show you how to capture moments on your phone and work with you to put your film together. You might start with a clip from this morning, a photo from 30 years ago or a memory you want to tell in your own voice. You choose what to include.

At the end of the program, you’ll come together to watch each other’s films and talk about what stood out. Sometimes a moment in someone else’s film puts words to something you’ve felt. Sometimes someone notices a detail in yours and says, “We do that too.” Sharing the films gives each spouse a chance to be heard and to see everyday life through another care partner’s eyes.

About your facilitator

I’m Chris Bell, a social worker at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. Before becoming a social worker, I spent 15 years writing, producing and editing for film and television. I enjoy finding creative ways to help people tell their stories, explore what those stories mean to them and notice strengths they might overlook. I also believe there’s room to sit with hard feelings without having to put a positive spin on them. That’s the spirit I bring to SPOUSES IN FRAME. You bring the story; I’ll help you make the film and find the meaning.

Program Schedule (all sessions in person unless otherwise indicated)

Session 1 – Group – January 21

Session 2 – Individual (can be offered virtually) – January 25 & 26

Session 3 – Group – February 4

Session 4 – Individual – February 15 & 16

Session 5 – Group Screening – February 19

A short screening call is required to ensure appropriateness for the group.

Email Chris at cbell@alz.to if you have any questions or want to express interest for a future iteration of the program.

The Community Connections Café is a welcoming space where people with memory loss or Dementia, and their care partners, can come to connect with others and support their brain health while socializing. This is an opportunity to enjoy simple refreshments and make new friends in a Dementia Friendly Community Space.

The Community Connections Cafe focuses on social wellness for people with memory loss or Dementia, and their care partners. The program is informal with the intended atmosphere of a local coffee shop where participants can chat over a beverage, do something creative, or play a game.

Every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 2:30pm to 4:30pm In-person at our AST Head Office
Location: 20 Eglinton Ave West, 16th Floor, Toronto
(Northwest corner of Yonge and Eglinton, across the street from Yonge and Eglinton subway station. Our office tower is to the left of Metro Grocery)

Registration is required for this program and closes at midnight (12am) the day prior to the event.
Please specify the number of guests attending when you register. You may register up to 3 persons per group.

This ongoing monthly support group provides an opportunity for care partners of individuals diagnosed with OR suspected of having cognitive impairment to come together to support each other through the caregiving experience.

Learning Objectives:

• Opportunity to share insights with each other related to their personal caregiving experiences
• Discuss and share different strategies regarding self-care and care for their family members (including stress, communication and responding to behaviours)
• Learn about how others are adjusting to their own changing relationship
• Receive updated information about dementia and the services available at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Every last Wednesday of the month from 2:30pm to 4:30pm In-person
Location: 20 Eglinton Ave West, 16th Floor, Toronto
(Northwest corner of Yonge and Eglinton, across the street from Yonge and Eglinton subway station. Our office tower is to the left of Metro Grocery)

*Disclaimer: Registration for this group closes on the Monday prior to the session. Your registration for this session does not apply to future dates. Please check your junk/spam email box if you do not receive the registration confirmation email. If you’re having trouble registering, please let us know by emailing: intake@alz.to

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FOR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS/PARTNERS/FAMILY/FRIENDS. If you are a PAID Healthcare Provider, please see program offerings here: https://alz.to/health-care-professionals/

This monthly support group will provide an opportunity for spousal caregivers of individuals diagnosed with OR suspected of having cognitive impairment to come together to support each other through the caregiving experience.

Learning Objectives:

• Opportunity to share insights with each other related to their personal caregiving experiences
• Discuss and share different strategies regarding self-care and care for the person they are supporting (including stress, communication and responding to behavioural and cognitive changes)
• Learn about how others are adjusting to and coping with their caregiving journey
• Receive updated information about dementia and the services available at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Every last Monday of the month from 1:30pm to 3:00pm online using Zoom
(Zoom information will be provided via email at least 24-48 hours prior to the date)

*Disclaimer: Registration for this group closes on the Friday prior to the session. Your registration for this session does not apply to future dates. Please check your junk/spam email box if you do not receive the registration confirmation email. If you’re having trouble registering, please let us know by emailing: intake@alz.to

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FOR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS/PARTNERS/FAMILY/FRIENDS. If you are a PAID Healthcare Provider, please see program offerings here: https://alz.to/health-care-professionals/

This monthly open support group will provide an opportunity for care partners of a parent diagnosed with OR suspected of having cognitive impairment to come together to support each other through the caregiving experience.

Learning Objectives:

• Opportunity to share insights with each other related to their personal caregiving experiences
• Discuss and share different strategies regarding self-care and care for their family members (including stress, communication and responding to behaviours)
• Learn about how others are adjusting to their own changing relationship
• Receive updated information about dementia and the services available at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Every 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:30pm to 7:30pm online using Zoom
(Zoom information will be provided via email at least 24-48 hours prior to the date)

*Disclaimer: Registration for this group closes on the Monday prior to the session. Your registration for this session does not apply to future dates. Please check your junk/spam email box if you do not receive the registration confirmation email. If you’re having trouble registering, please let us know by emailing: intake@alz.to

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FOR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS/PARTNERS/FAMILY/FRIENDS. If you are a PAID Healthcare Provider, please see program offerings here: https://alz.to/health-care-professionals/

Too often, clients shared that they wish they had learned what they would learn later in their journey but much earlier, expressing how key insight on the dementia experience would have improved their overall dementia journey.
This brand-new support group was designed by AST social workers in collaboration with caregivers, people experiencing cognitive changes, and various dementia specialists to offer key insight at the start of the dementia journey for the care partner.
Our experience tells us that the earlier you know what you know, the better your overall caregiving journey.

Each session will focus on a key theme. The following themes will be discussed:

• Advance Care Planning-November 11^th
• Getting a Diagnosis-December 9^th
• Ontario Health at Home Supports and Respite Programs-January 13^th
• Supportive Living Environments -February 10^th
• Supporting Healthy Choices for the Person Living with Dementia and Caregiver-March 10^th
• Communication Strategies-April 14^th
• Risk and Safety-May 12^th
• Dementia Medications-June 9^th
• Care Partner and Person Living with Dementia Expressed Realities-July 14^th
• Insider Dementia Wisdom and Overview of Alzheimer Society of Toronto Services-August 11^th

Should you choose to participate in this group please know that we expect you to observe the strictest confidentiality.

Every 2^nd Wednesday of the month from 5:30pm to 7:00pm online using Zoom
(Zoom information will be provided via email at least 24-48 hours prior to the date)

*Disclaimer: Registration for this group closes on the Monday prior to the session. Your registration for this session does not apply to future dates. Please check your junk/spam email box if you do not receive the registration confirmation email. If you’re having trouble registering, please let us know by emailing: intake@alz.to

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FOR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS/PARTNERS/FAMILY/FRIENDS. If you are a PAID Healthcare Provider, please see program offerings here: https://alz.to/health-care-professionals/

This monthly support group will provide an opportunity for care partners of a person living with young onset dementia (diagnosed before the age of 65) to come together to support each other through the caregiving experience.

Learning Objectives:

• Opportunity to share feelings and insights with each other related to their personal caregiving experiences
• Discuss and share different strategies regarding self-care and care for the person they are supporting (including stress, communication and responding to behaviours)
• Learn about how others are adjusting to their own changing relationship
• Receive information about the services available at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Every 2nd Thursday of the month from 6:30pm to 8:30pm online using Zoom
(Zoom information will be provided via email at least 24-48 hours prior to the date)

*Disclaimer: Registration for this group closes on the Monday prior to the session. Your registration for this session does not apply to future dates. Please check your junk/spam email box if you do not receive the registration confirmation email. If you’re having trouble registering, please let us know by emailing: intake@alz.to

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FOR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS/PARTNERS/FAMILY/FRIENDS. If you are a PAID Healthcare Provider, please see program offerings here: https://alz.to/health-care-professionals/

In partnership with Providence, this monthly open support group will provide an opportunity for care partners of a parent diagnosed with OR suspected of having cognitive impairment to come together to support each other through the caregiving experience.

Learning Objectives:

• Opportunity to share insights with each other related to their personal caregiving experiences
• Discuss and share different strategies regarding self-care and care for their family members (including stress, communication and responding to behaviours)
• Learn about how others are adjusting to their own changing relationship
• Receive updated information about dementia and the services available at the Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Every 2nd Thursday of the month from 6:30pm to 8:30pm online using Zoom
(Zoom information will be provided via email at least 24-48 hours prior to the date)

*Disclaimer: Registration for this group closes on the Monday prior to the session. Your registration for this session does not apply to future dates. Please check your junk/spam email box if you do not receive the registration confirmation email. If you’re having trouble registering, please let us know by emailing: intake@alz.to

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FOR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS/PARTNERS/FAMILY/FRIENDS. If you are a PAID Healthcare Provider, please see program offerings here: https://alz.to/health-care-professionals/