Sharbot Lake Alzheimer office 1st Anniversary

Candace Bertrim | Mar 25, 2010

The Sharbot Lake Alzheimer office celebrates its first anniversary in April 2009. It has been an exciting and challenging year helping to support over 100 clients and caregivers in our area. We have shared many emotions together on their journey with Alzheimer disease or a Related Dementia. It is a privilege to promote awareness, offer education and provide counselling to clients and caregivers in our own community about a disease that affects one in 11 persons over the age of 65 years. With the population aging, the number of those affected increases along for the demand and need for services.

Alzheimer's is a progressive, degenerative disease that destroys vital brain cells. Alzheimer Disease eventually affects all aspects of a person’s life - how they think, feel and act. Since individuals are affected differently, it is difficult to predict the symptoms each person will have and the order in which they will appear or the speed of the disease's progression.

I would like to share the success of the new office with the community and our Fund Development Committee as we have raised $6000 for the Alzheimer Society of KFL&A, Sharbot Lake office. The support has come from hosting our own Alzheimer Society Calendar Events: the Door to Door Campaign in June; Alzheimer Coffee Breaks in September/October; January was Alzheimer Awareness Month, which featured an Awareness and Fund Raising Evening; a Special Caregivers’ afternoon; and the Walk for Memories.

The Alzheimer Society advocates and supports people living with and affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. We offer caregiver counselling, monthly caregiver support groups, Public Education to the community as well as health care professionals, Promote Awareness, make referrals to community support services and the Safely Home Program.

Please contact your Public Education Coordinator of the Alzheimer Society KFL&A, Sharbot Lake at The Seniors Centre, 1042 Elizabeth Street, Sharbot Lake, K0H 2P0. 613 279-WELL (9355).

Office hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9AM - 4:30PM. Candace Bertrim, PEC, Alzheimer Society KFL&A, Sharbot Lake <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>.