The Dementia Society’s new Make a Connection Take a Break Program—serving Ottawa, Renfrew, Prescott-Russell and Lanark Counties—creates new virtual and in-person social connections for people living with dementia in the pandemic.
The Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County continues the fight against social isolation for people living with dementia exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact on people living with dementia and their caregivers has been profound: they are experiencing deep isolation, diminished social opportunities, and a disruption in routine, which may contribute to the acceleration of symptoms.
Make a Connection, Take a Break trains and matches screened volunteers with a person living with dementia for regular, personalized visits, while also providing the caregiver with a much-needed break. Visits can be made by phone, online or even safely in person. The program is offered in over a dozen languages—namely English, French, Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, Hungarian, Kurdish, German, Persian, and Dutch languages—thanks to a diverse group of volunteers.
“With our fabulous volunteer, Krystal, I get away for appointments. Every Monday she calls and speaks with my husband for an hour, giving me time to care for myself. Krystal is gold, the Dementia Society has done a good job hiring her, and she is fabulous,” says Susan, a Caregiver in Ottawa
Make a Connection, Take a Break is free and it’s simple to register:
- Introductions: Fill in the client profile and tell us about yourself, if you are a person living with a diagnosis of dementia, or about your person living with dementia, if you are a caregiver.
- Connect: The Dementia Society will match you with a trained volunteer and schedule regular visit for your by phone, via a Web platform like Zoom or FaceTime, or even in person, safely.
- Recharge: While the person living with dementia makes a new connection, the caregiver can take a few minutes to catch their breath, and take care of themselves and other business.
Funded by a grant of the United Way Eastern Ontario and the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund, the Make a Connection,Take a Break program was developed following the migration online of the majority of the Dementia Society’s numerous in-person support, education and recreation programs in April.
“We knew at the outset of the pandemic that people living with dementia and their caregivers would find this time even more challenging than before. Dementia has a way of isolating people—whether you are a person with a diagnosis or a caregiver,” notes Wendy Grimshaw, CEO of the Dementia Society. “This new program is a way to reach people in their homes and connect one-on-one with individuals living with dementia, while also supporting caregivers.”
“With additional support from the Ottawa Community Foundation, we are also now able to visit people safely in their homes, when virtual visits don’t work for them.” (NOTE: This in-person program is suspended as a result of the province-wide shutdown that began on December 26, 2020 and will resume as soon as public health measures allow.)
Serving Ottawa and Renfrew County, the Dementia Society is proud to collaborate with the Alzheimer’s Societies of Cornwall and District, and Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Counties to support people living with dementia, their caregivers and families across these regions.
To learn more about this program, to register or to volunteer, click HERE to visit MakeAConnectionTakeABreak.ca or visit DementiaHelp.ca
Holmes,K.,Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County(2020,Dec.22) Dementia Society Make a Connection [media release]
About the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County: Dementia affects our memory, thinking, emotions and ability to perform everyday tasks. In Ottawa and Renfrew County, 24,000 people live with a diagnosis of dementia and one in 5 of us cares for someone living with dementia. In the next decade, the number of diagnosed cases is expected to double. The Dementia Society receives funds from the Champlain Local Health Integrated Network and with through additional fund development initiatives, they develop, deliver and innovate a wide range of social, recreational and educational programs to reduce isolation and engage people living with dementia and their caregivers and families in meaningful and supportive activities so that no-one faces dementia alone.
