What is U-First!®  for Care Partners?

U-First!® for Care Partners is a new education program for family and friends who are providing direct support to someone experiencing behaviour changes as a result of dementia or other cognitive impairment.

This 6 hour education program will help you to:

• Enhance well-being of care partners and of the person they are supporting who is experiencing behaviour changes
• Reduce responsive behaviours by using the U-First!® framework
• Improve collaboration among all team members through a common knowledge, language and approach to care.

 

Mandatory Session Dates:
Monday, April 28th from 2:00pm-4:00pm
Monday, May 5th from 2:00pm-4:00pm
Monday, May 12th from 2:00pm-4:00pm

Optional Session Date:
Monday, May 26th from 2:00pm-4:00pm
(Please note that there is no session on May 19th)

 

Who should attend?

U-First!® for Care Partners is for family and friends of people experiencing behaviour changes as a result of dementia or other cognitive impairment who provide direct support for that person in an unpaid role.

What’s involved in the program?

• Interactive learning approach that has participants reflect on their experiences, engage with new content, practice using a variety of methods including case studies and plan for how they will implement what they have learned.
• Learners receive a Participant Workbook and a U-First!® Wheel to use during the program and keep as useful resources for applying their learning.
• Learners will also be invited to take part in an evaluation to better understand the effectiveness and outcomes of the program.  In addition, a sample of participants will be invited to take part in an interview with the Evaluator. All learners will be invited to participate in evaluation activities but will not be excluded from the program if they choose not to participate in the evaluation.

What’s the cost for the program?

There is no cost for participants of U-First!® for Care Partners.

 

Please note that there will be additional screening of all interested participants to ensure there is a fit between the program and participant.

Registration closes April 14th, 2025.

 

(THIS PROGRAM IS FOR INFORMAL CAREGIVERS/PARTNERS/FAMILY/FRIENDS. If you are a Health Care Provider, please click here for the U-First! for Health Care Providers courses)

Join our twice-monthly social at our Mid-Scarborough Hub, 2658 Eglinton Ave E. Scarborough.

This program is an opportunity to meet like-minded people, to engage in meaningful conversations, tap into our creativity and get active. This two-hour social is a great way to find your community and partake in gentle movement to great playlists. East End Friends is intended for people living with dementia and their care partners, and it is offered through a culturally inclusive, accessible and dementia-friendly lens. Light refreshments will be served.

Contact: Please contact Tracey for more information or by phone at 647 456 6168

Join our twice-monthly social at our Mid-Scarborough Hub, 2658 Eglinton Ave E. Scarborough.

This program is an opportunity to meet like-minded people, to engage in meaningful conversations, tap into our creativity and get active. This two-hour social is a great way to find your community and partake in gentle movement to great playlists. East End Friends is intended for people living with dementia and their care partners, and it is offered through a culturally inclusive, accessible and dementia-friendly lens. Light refreshments will be served.

Contact: Please contact Tracey for more information or by phone at 647 456 6168

Join our twice-monthly social at our Mid-Scarborough Hub, 2658 Eglinton Ave E. Scarborough.

This program is an opportunity to meet like-minded people, to engage in meaningful conversations, tap into our creativity and get active. This two-hour social is a great way to find your community and partake in gentle movement to great playlists. East End Friends is intended for people living with dementia and their care partners, and it is offered through a culturally inclusive, accessible and dementia-friendly lens. Light refreshments will be served.

Contact: Please contact Tracey for more information or by phone at 647 456 6168

Join our twice-monthly social at our Mid-Scarborough Hub, 2658 Eglinton Ave E. Scarborough.

This program is an opportunity to meet like-minded people, to engage in meaningful conversations, tap into our creativity and get active. This two-hour social is a great way to find your community and partake in gentle movement to great playlists. East End Friends is intended for people living with dementia and their care partners, and it is offered through a culturally inclusive, accessible and dementia-friendly lens. Light refreshments will be served.

Contact: Please contact Tracey for more information or by phone at 647 456 6168

Join our twice-monthly social at our Mid-Scarborough Hub, 2658 Eglinton Ave E. Scarborough.

This program is an opportunity to meet like-minded people, to engage in meaningful conversations, tap into our creativity and get active. This two-hour social is a great way to find your community and partake in gentle movement to great playlists. East End Friends is intended for people living with dementia and their care partners, and it is offered through a culturally inclusive, accessible and dementia-friendly lens. Light refreshments will be served.

Contact: Please contact Tracey for more information or by phone at 647 456 6168

Join our twice-monthly social at our Mid-Scarborough Hub, 2658 Eglinton Ave E. Scarborough.

This program is an opportunity to meet like-minded people, to engage in meaningful conversations, tap into our creativity and get active. This two-hour social is a great way to find your community and partake in gentle movement to great playlists. East End Friends is intended for people living with dementia and their care partners, and it is offered through a culturally inclusive, accessible and dementia-friendly lens. Light refreshments will be served.

Contact: Please contact Tracey for more information or by phone at 647 456 6168

Join us at the Toronto Public Library – Jane/Sheppard Branch for an information session about Celebrating Special Occasions.
This session is intended for Care Partners of Persons Living with Dementia.

 

Explore the unique challenges of celebrating holidays and special occasions. Gain practical planning tips, including strategies to promote meaningful communication with person with dementia.

Learning Objectives

• Increase awareness of dementia-related changes that may lead to feelings of loss for family and friends during holidays and special occasions.
• Plan special occasions that respect the changing abilities of the person with dementia
• Develop strategies for meaningful communication with the person with dementia

 

No registration required. Drop-ins welcome.

Join us at the Toronto Public Library – Jane/Sheppard Branch for an information session about The Alzheimer Society Music Project.

 

The Alzheimer Society Music Project provides personalized music players at no cost to people living with dementia.
In this session, you will learn about the benefits of listening to personalized music and the role of the Alzheimer Society Music Project. Eligible individuals will also have the opportunity to apply to participate in the program.

 

No registration required. Drop-ins welcome.

To learn more, click here

The TEACH (Training, Education, and Assistance for Caregiving at Home) Program is a Reitman Centre caregiver program which consists of 4 weekly group sessions that are each 90 minutes long.

Learning objectives:

• Focus on common caregiving themes including; self-care, healthcare system navigation, relationship changes and future planning
• Coaches care partners in practical communication and coping skills
• Provides opportunity to share and learn from other care partners

 

Session dates:
Mondays from 5:30pm–7:00pm, starting May 26th, ending June 16th.

• Week 1 – May 26th
• Week 2 – June 2nd
• Week 3 – June 9th
• Week 4 – June 16th

Please note, participants are expected to commit to all 4 sessions listed above. Kindly register only if these dates work for you.
If registration is closed or this schedule does not work for you at this time, you are encouraged to fill out the form on this webpage: https://alz.to/programs/support-services/enhancing-care-program/.
Additionally, you can check out our ongoing support groups that are available for registration month-to-month. See a list of upcoming support groups here.

 

Registration and an assessment appointment (in-person or via Zoom) are prerequisites. Registration closes on May 21st.
An Enhancing Care Clinician in the Social Work Department will contact you for your assessment.

 

If you are interested in a future session, please Click Here to fill in the expression of interest form