
It was well-attended, with 80 people registered.
It is amazing the energy you get from learning about health issues, discussing concerns with professionals.
It was sponsored by the Mills Community Home Support, and the Alzheimer Society of Lanark County, as well as Kingsway Arms in Carleton Place, and Hands on Healing.
Deborah Steele [RN BScN CPMHN(C) GNC(C)],
Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant for Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, spoke on the facets of dementia. She works out of Brockville, and I have heard her speak several times. I took a course with her on Gentle Persuasive Approaches in Dementia Care.
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First Link |
It is important to support families with dementia.
No thanks, we're fine: Supporting families living with dementia. Watch this compelling video
Kim Schryburt-Brown spoke about keeping a home safe, bringing in the impact of visual impairments to safely navigating one's home, when navigating with dementia.
She discussed rummaging, when a dementia client goes through cupboards, toolboxes, drawers, etc.
There is a difference between illusions (misidentification of objects, difficulties navigating in the environment) and hallucinations (perceiving things that are not actually happening). In my case, my father had dementia from a brain tumour. He had hallucinations from his drugs.
She also provided several resources:
- Safely Home, a registry for dementia wanderers.
- Information for Caregivers
- Downloadable Home Safety booklet by nia.nih.gov
- CMHC's At Home With Alzheimer's Disease
- Do Not Call phone registry


The last speaker, myself, I spoke about taking care of oneself, with specific caregiver tips for managing life as a caregiver.
"It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution." ~Oscar Wilde
I spoke about ways and means to care for yourself.
I also gave some tips on knowing the difference between dementia and delirium, as well as depression. These are not mutually exclusive.
“I learned so much about myself and about others. Things I hadn't realized when I was nursing.”- Kay Devlin, Celebration of a life worth living
You have to realize it's not the end of your life; it's a part of it.”
“I think these have been the best 5 years of my life!”

It is important to find positive things to do: I recommend a Life Review, as a positive activity with ailing loved one - focus on one's life, not this time of life.
In my late father's case, he was in the ER while doctors failed to diagnose delirium, since the dementia masked its symptoms. He also was depressed, and was never able to speak to a social worker. He was in the ER during my late mother's funeral, while my brother cared for him. They were tough times for all, which could have been prevented by more information.


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My display When I volunteer in LTC, I take my dancing duck! I also recommend keeping a log of visitors, Rx, and journal your feelings. |
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I donated a book as a door prize, which Mel won. |
Dementia Stages See if a Doctor should be Consulted about Alzheimer's. Take this Test… www.OnMemory.ca
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