Holidays are often the time when family members discover that a relative has symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Don’t rush to emergency. Call for help and suggestions here, first.
The following is a comprehensive shortlist of sites and helplines across Canada.
If you or someone you know has just been diagnosed, this is a great place to start looking for answers.
(Let us know if we are missing a resource that has helped you.)
Helplines
Alzheimer Society of Canada Helpline: 1 800 616-8816
The Alzheimer Society of B.C. Helpline (Monday to Friday, 9 am-4 pm): 1-800-936-6033
Telehealth Ontario after-hours helpline: 1-866-797-0000
Website
Provides an online community and support system for people to discuss what they are going through and explore the options available to them. Alzheimer’s can be an extremely isolating and debilitating disease for all those involved and we want to make sure that everyone understands that they are not alone.
Alzheimer’s Societies
Alzheimer Society of Canada
The Alzheimer Society is the leading nationwide health charity for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, including their caregivers and families. Active in communities across Canada, the Society:
- provides information, support and education programs
- funds research to improve treatments and to find a cure
- promotes public awareness about the disease
- influences policy change for better dementia care and support
Contact us at: 20 Eglinton Ave. W., Ste. 1600, Toronto, ON M4R 1K8
Tel: 416-488-8772; Toll-free: 1-800-616-8816 (valid only in Canada)
Fax: 416-322-6656; Email: info@alzheimer.ca; Website: www.alzheimer.ca
First Link
First Link is an Alzheimer.ca program for early diagnosis. Often people won’t reach out and make a call for help and support. Instead, individuals are referred by physicians directly to First Link at the time of diagnosis. Once a referral is made, the First Link Coordinator contacts the person with dementia and family members, linking them to Alzheimer Society services and other programs and services.
Alzheimer Society (Canada) Message Board
http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/We-can-help/Alzheimer-society-message-board
Get help and information from any of the following Alzheimer Societies across Canada:
Alzheimer Society of British Columbia
Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories
Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan
Alzheimer Society of Manitoba
Alzheimer Society of Ontario
Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies
http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/federationquebecoise?c=1
Alzheimer Society of New Brunswick
Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward Island
http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/pei
Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia
Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
http://www.alzheimernl.org/home
Private Alzheimer’s Foundations
We Rage, We Weep Alzheimer Foundation
Marjorie Moulton
Executive Director
707-828 Rupert Terrace
Victoria, BC V8W 0A7
Phone: (250) 920-9573
An independent Canadian registered charity that supports caregivers, by funding programs that are not currently available through statutory assistance. We Rage, We Weep was founded in 2006 by June Fuller Moulton, the wife, and Marjorie Moulton, the daughter of a man who lost his battle with Alzheimer’s in 1995.
Alzheimer’s Initiatives
Medic Alert Safely Home
http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/Living-with-dementia/Day-to-day-living/Safety/Safely-Home
The MedicAlert ID and service was originally created to help emergency responders treat people quickly and effectively who couldn’t speak for themselves. Today, the program combines a 24/7 Hotline, a Medic Alert ID bracelet and family notification.
The Alzheimer’s Drug Therapy Initiative
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare/adti/
A cooperative initiative between the Alzheimer Society of B.C, the University of British Columbia, the Government of British Columbia, the University of Victoria’s Centre on Aging, drug manufacturers, clinical experts, researchers and practicing clinicians. The goal of this initiative is to advocate for individuals with Alzheimer’s and help them gain access to medication with cholinesterase inhibitors.
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