Renfrew County

• First Link^®

• Support Groups

• Public Education Seminars

• Volunteer Education Program

• Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant (PRC) in Renfrew County

• Enhancing Care Program

• Partnership in Transitional Care

• Speakers’ Bureau

• Diversity

• Youth Education Program

• Safely Home^®

• Resource Centre

• Newsletter

• Website

ALZHEIMER SOCIETY OF OTTAWA AND RENFREW COUNTY

Renfrew County Offices

Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County Membership

Click here for membership form

Programs

Our Programs staff can provide bilingual services in the form of information, support and education to families who contact the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County in person, over the phone, by email and in caregiver groups.

First Link^®

Led by the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County in collaboration with the Champlain Dementia Network, First Link^® is a framework that links individuals newly diagnosed with dementia and their families to a community of learning, services and support. It offers information, support, referral to community support agencies and a progressive learning series. The learning series include: First Steps for People with Dementia and Caregivers, Next Steps for Families, Care Essentials, Options for Care, as well as Late Stage Dementia Care and End of Life Dementia Care.

Support Groups

These groups offer a confidential, compassionate and knowledgeable environment where individuals can discuss challenges they encounter in everyday living with dementia. Education and information sharing is an integral part of these support group sessions. We offer:

• Family Support Groups *
• Wives Support Group
• Husbands/Sons Support Group
• Daughters Support Group
• “Especially for You” Support Groups for individuals in the early stages of dementia
• Caregiver Support Groups for carers of those in the early stages of dementia
• Caregiver Support Groups in collaboration with Day Programs
• “Between Us” Support Group for persons with Early Onset dementia (persons under the age of 65 years with a diagnosis of dementia)
• Early Onset Caregiver Support Group (caregivers of persons with dementia under the age of 65 years)
• “Morning Break” Caregiver Support Group in Metcalfe
• Koffee Klatsch/Lunch Bunch: a social group for persons in the early stages of dementia and their carer *

In the Renfrew County area:

Offered by the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County:
• Arnprior – 2nd Friday of every month, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., Island View Retirement Suites
• Barry’s Bay – 2nd Thursday of every month, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., Water Tower Lodge
• Deep River – 2nd Wednesday of every month, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., North Renfrew Long Term Care Centre
• Renfrew – 1st Thursday of every month, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Trinity-St. Andrews United Church

Offered by other Renfrew County organizations:
• Pembroke – last Monday of every month, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Miramichi Lodge
• Pembroke – 3rd Monday of every month, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Marianhill

Public Education Seminars

Designed for family members, caregivers, and the public, seminars are held on topics relating to various aspects of caregiving. Topics such as: Capacity, Powers of Attorney, Financial and Estate Planning, communication, challenging behaviours, coping strategies, and ethics are presented. Resources for future reference are shared. *

Volunteer Education Program

This program is offered to adult and/or student volunteers who find themselves working with residents/clients who have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.

Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant (PRC) in Renfrew County

Core-based consultation for community and long term care providers that includes education sessions (GPA), development of resource material and participation on committees. Info: ksheppard@asorc.org or Toll Free 1-888-411-2067 in Pembroke.

Enhancing Care Program

An assessment program for long term care homes, day programs and retirement homes facilitated by the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County. This program assists organizations to assess their own programs and services for clients with dementia using the Alzheimer Society of Canada’s Guidelines for Care. *

Partnership in Transitional Care

As the project lead, our chapter provides the workshop “Preparing for the Move” for individuals applying for long term care and their family members. This workshop addresses: common feelings at this time and ways to cope; planning for the day of the move; helping your family member adjust to their new home; and helping yourself adjust and your new role. *

Speakers' Bureau

Presentations on various aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias can be given to the general public, Family Councils, family members, volunteers in long-term care and retirement homes, as well as community agencies and groups. Topics can include: Alzheimer Society Programs and Services, Heads Up for Healthier Brains, What is Normal Memory Loss, Responsive Behaviours in Dementia, Communication with the Person with Dementia, and so much more. *

Diversity Program

To promote linkages with cultural associations and community health centres focusing on multicultural groups to ensure that people and families, whatever their linguistic, cultural or diverse background, have access to the dementia-specific support, information and education that they need throughout the course of the disease.

Youth Education Program

To reach out to the younger generation that has to cope with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias on family members. The goal of this program is to dispel myths and stigma, encourage healthy choices and lifestyles associated with long term brain health, promote intergeneration awareness and more.

Safely Home^®

Developed by the Alzheimer Society of Canada with the RCMP, this program is designed to help find the person with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia who is lost and assist in a safe return. Registration is voluntary. When registered, vital information about the individual is stored confidentially on a police database. This information can be accessed by police anywhere in Canada. For a one time fee of $35, an identification bracelet, a Caregiver Handbook and ID cards are provided. Registration forms are available at our Ottawa, Renfrew and Pembroke offices, as well as the below:

• Register online at www.safelyhome.ca/en/
• Online courses for:

o Care facilities’ staff – “Plan to be Prepared! Bringing people with Alzheimer’s and related diseases Safely Home” to help them better understand the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease, concepts of emergency preparedness and how to plan for and carry out search emergency procedures

o Police and Emergency Services – “Search is an Emergency: Bringing people with Alzheimer’s and related diseases Safely Home"

Resource Centre

Books, videos, and DVDs on Alzheimer topics such as coping techniques and strategies, activities for the Alzheimer person, or placement issues are available to help both family and professional caregivers. Fact sheets, Alzheimer journals and other reference materials are also available. Caregivers in Renfrew County can access portable libraries at Pembroke, Renfrew, Barry’s Bay, Deep River, Beachburg, and Arnprior. *

Newsletter

Our chapter’s newsletter, Alzheimer lifeline, provides information on caregiver tips, research, local news, educational programs, and more for chapter members.

Website

Our chapter's website located at www.alzheimer-ottawa-rc.org is filled with numerous files on Alzheimer’s disease and related topics of interest to caregivers, family members and the general public.

* Also available in French.