Support and strategies are being offered to Richmond care givers, who are looking after people living with dementia, next week.
Two free lecture-style webinars, offered by the Alzheimer Society of B.C., aim to help caregivers by providing practical strategies and support to help them better understand people affected by dementia and their behavioural changes due to COVID-19.
According to Laura Feldman, a support and education coordinator with Alzheimer Society of B.C., people with dementia are more likely to experience isolation because they have difficulty participating in a conversation or expressing themselves.
The pandemic, she added, made it even more difficult due to changes in daily routine, increased isolation and the loss of socialization.
Therefore, many residents affected by dementia may be experiencing changes to their behaviours, noted Feldman.
“I heard some people saying they‘ve seen a lot of changes over the past year and a half with their family members because things aren’t the same. I also heard people asking how other people are doing. So even just those few words signaled to me that people are isolated,” she said.
“People living with dementia are affected by more than just dementia, and dementia is more than just memory loss.”
Feldman added that it is crucial for the caregivers to access information, resources and support to ensure they aren’t alone.
The first webinar titled Focus on behaviour: Targeted strategies for denial, paranoia, anxiety and shadowing, is set for 2 p.m. on Oct. 20.
A second webinar to be held on Oct. 27 at 2 p.m., aim to help participants learn strategies in understanding changes in behaviour and how to respond in supportive ways.
For more information and to register visit alzbc.org/webinars.
