Alzheimer Society & our First Link Program

Transcription

1 Alzheimer Society & our First Link Program

2 Overview of Presentation Visio a d Missio of the A zheimer Society What is Deme tia? A zheimer Society Programs a d Services & our First Li k Program Too s a d Tips i practice for hea th professio a s 2

3 Our Vision Create a world without Alzheimer's disease and related dementias Our Mission The Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland & Labrador exists to alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, to promote public awareness, and to search for the causes and the cures. 3

4 What is Dementia? o Dementia describes a group of symptoms and is not the name of a specific disease o Impairment in memory and thinking o Often progressive o Interferes with day-to-day or social functioning

5 What is Dementia? o Not everyone who is confused has dementia o Not everyone who has dementia has Alzheimer s disease o Alzheimer disease and related dementia s fall under this umbrella Alzheimer s disease Lewy Bodies Dementia Vascular Dementia Frontotemporal Dementia Mixed Dementia

6 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer s disease 1. Memory loss affecting day-to-day function 2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks 3. Problems with language 4. Disorientation to space and time 5. Poor or decreased judgement 6. Problems with abstract thinking 7. Misplacing things 8. Changes in mood and behaviour 9. Changes in personality 10. Loss of initiative

7 DEMENTIA NUMBERS IN CANADA 5% The percentage of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research s budget i vested i deme tia research 45% The greater your risk of bei g diag osed ith deme tia if you smoke 65% Of those diag osed ith deme tia over the age of 65 are ome 16,000 The umber of Ca adia s u der the age of 65 ivi g ith deme tia 25,000 The umber of e cases of deme tia diag osed every year 7

8 DEMENTIA NUMBERS IN CANADA 56,000 The umber of Ca adia s ith deme tia bei g cared for i hospita s eve though this is ot a idea ocatio for care 564,000 Ca adia s are curre t y ivi g ith deme tia 937,000 The umber of Ca adia s ho i be ivi g ith the disease i 15 years 1.1 million The number of Canadians affected directly or indirectly by the disease $10.4 billion The a ua cost to Ca adia s to care for those ivi g ith deme tia 8

9 DEMENTIA NUMBERS IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR There are 8,666 i dividua s ivi g ith Alzheimer s disease or a re ated deme tia i our provi ce. 214 NEW cases a ua y 9

10 First Steps for families Seek a diagnosis o There is no single test for Alzheimer s disease or other forms of dementia o Getting a diagnosis is a lengthy process that may involve: Medical history Physical exam Mini-Mental status exam (MMSE) Laboratory tests Neuropsychological evaluations

11 Role of the Alzheimer Society o o o We eed to respo d to the gro i g dema d for service i a effective ay Our First Link Program is a outreach program desig ed to reach i dividua s immediate y upo diag osis. The program bega i our provi ce i 2012.

12 What is First Link? o First Link is a i ovative referra program desig ed for people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer s disease a d other deme tias a d their fami ies. o It provides support as ear y as possib e a d throughout the progressio of the disease.

13 Key Elements of First Link o Outreach o Referri g Part ers o Proactive Co tacts o Co ectio to Services o I te tio a Fo o up

14 First Link Outreach Outreach is the bui di g of Referring partnerships ith physicia s, hea th professio a s, a d commu ity service providers to e courage them to proactive y refer peop e ith deme tia a d their fami ies to the A zheimer Society.

15 First Link Referring Partners o A referri g part er is a hea th care provider ho comp etes our referra forms ith their patie ts a d co ects them to the A zheimer Society.

16 First Link Proactive Contact o Upo receipt of the referra e do proactive co tact ith the c ie t a d mai tai co tact throughout their perso a jour ey of the disease.

17 First Link Connection to Services o A c ie t referred to us are advised of our Programs and Services: I formatio Kits o the disease Ne s etters Resource Ce tres O e-o -o e meeti gs Fami y Support Groups I troduced to our 15-Week Lear i g Series o the disease

18 Services - Learning Series Four Part Series 1. First Steps 2. Care Esse tia s 3. Optio s for Care 4. Care i the Later Stages Our curre t Lear i g Series bega October 25, 2017 I want to express my thanks for the excellent series. - Lear i g Series participa t I would first like to tell you how much I enjoy the sessions you present, it's so nice to know that ot o y are there ma y others out there i the same situatio as our fami y but that it's so easy to reach out and get answers to any questions one may have from a professional. Lear i g Series participa t

19 Services - Family Support Group o For those cari g for someo e ith the disease spouses, fami y or frie ds a Caregiver Support Group offers the cha ce to: o Excha ge i formatio a d frie dship ith others affected by deme tia o Access the most curre t i formatio o Lear a d share practica tips for copi g ith cha ge o Decrease fee i gs of o e i ess a d iso atio o Express fee i gs a d be reassured that these fee i gs are orma o Fi d a se se of hope 19

20 Information for Health Care Professionals Screening and Diagnosis Cog itive impairme t a d deme tia are prese t i about 20% of the e der y popu atio a d are co siste t y rated amo g the top three co cer s of o der adu ts 20

21 Benefits of early recognition for cognitive impairment or Social dementia Medical Right to k o Socia /Fi a cia p a i g Safety, comp ia ce, drivi g, cooki g Adva ced hea th care directive Improve caregiver e - bei g ith educatio a d support 21 Treat reversib e cause/compo e ts Risk factor treatme t Cho i esterase i hibitors or treatme ts Crisis avoida ce a d co ti ge cy

22 How does dementia affect Difficu ty fi di g a ord communication? Creati g e ords for o es they have forgotte Repeati g a ord or phrase Difficu t orga izi g ords i to ogica se te ces Usi g offe sive a guage Reverti g to the a guage they first ear ed Ta ki g ess tha usua 22

23 How to approach communication Lea about deme tia a d ho it affects i dividua s Be ieve that commu icatio is possib e at a stages Focus o the perso s abi ities a d ski s Reassure a d be positive Meet the perso here they are a d accept their e rea ity 23

24 Tips for communicating with a person with dementia Before you speak Ho to speak Ho to iste Other ays of commu icati g 24

25 Understanding behaviours Wandering Wa ks a ay from home u atte ded ith the risk of becomi g ost Strategies Look for cause Reassura ce Locks Disguise exits Mai tai exercise Remove remi ders I form eighbours Register MedicA ert 25

26 Understanding behaviours Restlessness Strategies Paces ervous y, drums fi gers, etc for o g periods of time Distractio Music Exercise Patter s 26

27 Understanding behaviours Repeated actions Strategies Repeats ords or actio s over a d over agai Distractio Cha ge the subject Stay Ca m 27

28 Understanding behaviours Suspicion Thi ks others are tryi g to her him/her. Comfort Strategies Don t argue Accuses others of stea i g possessio s Don t take personally Distract 28

29 Understanding behaviours Aggression Strategies Physica a d emotio a outbursts (ie shouti g) Ca m approach Look for cause of behaviour Give space Distract safety 29

30 Health Professional Resources A zheimer Society ebsite.a zheimer.ca/ First Li k Program Referra Program 7 E eme ts of perso -ce tre care book et O i e educatio a programs offered o A zheimer Society ebsite Hea th professio a grief.. 30

31 Special Events Coffee Break A fundraiser where friends, co-workers and customers gather throughout the province to make a donation in exchange for a cup of coffee. Join us this fall by hosting your own coffee break! Walk for Alzheimer s Our walks are a great way for families to show their support for their loved one on the journey of Alzheimer s disease. Walks are held throughout May and June. 31

32 Thank you all for your time! Provincial Office 835 Topsail Road Unit 107 Mount Pearl, NL A1N 3J6 Phone: (709) Toll Free: Fax: (709)