Your generous spirit has inspired numerous people around you. Let us introduce you to one of them.

When Janet was a young child, her grandmother came to live with her family. After caring for a husband who had passed on from Alzheimer’s disease, Janet’s grandmother had also been diagnosed with the disease and it had progressed to a level where she could no longer live on her own.

Janet and her sister Gayle saw how well their mother Wilda took care of her during that time. She was always patient and loving with their grandmother and the family looked after her as long as they could. Eventually the situation became unsafe and her grandmother was placed in a care facility. “My mom felt guilty for not being able to care for her mother. She would visit her parents every week, even when they no longer knew who she was,” remembers Janet.

Sadly, Janet’s father also developed dementia and passed away in 2006. Today, Janet’s mother Wilda is the fourth family member to have been diagnosed with dementia, and Janet and Gayle are her caregivers.

The sisters lovingly do up the buttons on her coat, help her put on her gloves and hat and buckle her seat belt as they get into the car. They buy her food and feed her on days she is too confused. “We appreciate our mom even more for having lived through both parents, and her husband, living with and dying from Alzheimer’s. We’ve really learned to appreciate the moments! Whether it is a look, hug, funny story, or just being together - it’s a time to cherish. She is still Mom, she’s the same person she was… she’s just hidden in there somewhere.”

Janet knew it was important to get help and support along the way. “When my father was diagnosed I knew I needed support from others who were experiencing the same thing. I began attending a caregiver support group run by the Alzheimer Society of Calgary. I learned so much from the group members! They let me know my feelings were normal, provided tips for how they managed specific situations and understood the challenges I was going through. It was a safe place to talk about my anger at the disease,

my fear about the changes in my dad and my concern about how my mom was managing.”

“My mom and I also participated in a workshop series for caregivers at the Society. We had been worried about the stress for our mom as she cared for our dad, and I know this made such a difference for her, to hear from others (professionals) that it was OK for her to take a break and to not feel guilty about asking for help.”

Janet wants others going through the same experience to make sure they don’t hesitate to reach out to the Alzheimer Society of Calgary for support. “I also want to say a heartfelt thank you to the donors who made it possible for me, my sister and my mom to get the advice and information we needed. Thank you so much, to all of you.”

What would you like to be remembered for? Creating or revising your will can be a time of personal reflection. For many people, love, family and community are the things we cherish in a life well-lived. The Alzheimer Society of Calgary has been grateful to receive bequests from ordinary individuals who, through their generosity, have helped build and sustain the programs and services we offer today. Their legacies have created a direct positive and lasting impact on the lives of thousands of local people.

If you would like to ensure the Alzheimer Society of Calgary continues the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias for future generations, please consider leaving a bequest in your will. If you have questions please contact Eleanor Finger, Director of Development at eleanorf@alzheimercalgary.com or (403) 290-0110. We thank you for your consideration.

“We’ve really learned to appreciate the moments. Whether it is a look, a hug, a funny story or just being together - it’s a time to cherish.” Janet shares her story inside

More information. Better access. Easier to navigate.We’ve launched a new website to better serve you by providing more comprehensive information and convenient access. Whether you are living with dementia; a family member, care partner, or simply know someone who has been impacted, we invite you to explore it.

You’ll find the information you need, including:• quick connections to support, education and respite (no matter what stage

of the journey you’re at)

• practical tips and helpful articles

• easy registration for events and workshops

• valuable referrals

Visit alzheimercalgary.ca

Your Impact. Our Community. What your support has created

L to R: Janet and her sister Gayle with their mother; Janet’s parents Bob & Wilda; a glimpse of Bob & Wilda’s wedding; Gayle celebrates with her mother

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Thank you to our generous community of donors, funders, partners and sponsors for making this work possible. We’d like to extend our gratitude to our community partners who have supported our recent awareness efforts in Calgary and surrounding areas.

Using technology to create rewarding programs for people living with dementia

Nasira works with a Club 36 participant

“Morning, John!*”, calls out Nasira with a smile, as John and his wife enter the sunny room where Club 36 takes place every weekday. John’s wife gives a warm greeting to Nasira and the team before saying goodbye to John for the day... she’s off to catch up on errands and have a little time to herself.

John is living with dementia and just recently became a participant at Club 36, the Alzheimer Society of Calgary’s Adult Day Program. John is enjoying his days at Club, but the first few visits were definitely an adjustment.

“Afternoons were hard on John,” recalls Nasira. “After lunch he would get quite restless and want to go home. He wouldn’t come join in with group activities and would wait at the front door to leave. We wanted to come up with an activity that would keep him engaged and happy in the afternoons.”

Nasira revisited John’s life story, a history and profile that families create on behalf of their loved one to help Club 36 staff better understand their needs. Nasira noticed that John, who immigrated to Canada in his youth, had enjoyed

listening to music and songs from his home country prior to his diagnosis. Using one of Club 36’s iPad tablets, she found an app that could access radio stations from all over the world and accessed a station playing many songs in John’s native language.

“John, what do you think of this?” asked Nasira as she brought the iPad within earshot. “Do you know this music?” He listened for a few minutes, then opened up with a smile. “Yes!” he said.

Now John enjoys some time listening to his music in the afternoons or when he is feeling restless. “The great thing is that he now joins in more with the other participants,” says Ali Cada, Program Manager of Club 36. “Even if he prefers not to take part in a particular activity, he will sit with the others at the table and listen to the iPad.”

New technology such as the iPad has proved very beneficial to Club 36 participants, and can be incorporated into physical activity, touch therapy and sound therapy. Sally* has found great enjoyment in an iPad game depicting beautiful, realistic-looking fish in a koi pond that can be made to “swim” by touching the screen.

“We also use the Wii almost every day” says Ali. Pronounced ‘wee’, it is a game console that requires players to use body movements to play the games. “Bowling is really popular, as everyone can join in even if they are seated. And the game show ‘Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader’ is a hit because the questions aren’t always easy, but someone always has the answer! It’s a great way to create visual and cognitive stimulation, and our participants feel a real sense of accomplishment.”

All of these activities serve the overall purpose of Club 36 to create quality of life for those living with dementia through individualized and engaging programs. “We want 100% engagement and participation,” confirms Ali. “The worst thing that could happen is for participants to get little out of their time with us. We’re really committed to tailoring their experience to their needs, and the iPad and the Wii have been such a blessing in that regard.”

Club 36 staff members are grateful for the addition of these items to their toolkit. The iPad creates a different channel for both entertainment and communication and has helped divert attention and manage behaviour changes. Memory games, YouTube (for videos), simple math games and an increasing array of applications are being tested to determine how our participants respond. Based on the outcomes at the Harvest Hills location and sourcing appropriate funding, we plan to extend both technologies to our Beaverdam location over time.

Would you like to help? Should you wish to donate an iPad or a Wii or make a donation to Club 36, please visit us online or contact us at (403) 290-0110. We are willing and available at any time to answer questions about the Club 36 Adult Day Program.

Ali Cada, Club 36 Program Manager Alzheimer Society of Calgary alzheimercalgary.ca

*All participant names have been changed to protect their privacy.

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