Feature: Alzheimer Society is First Link to community

January is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County is pleased to announce the launch of a nation-wide campaign reminding people that the organization is the “First Link” to support, knowledge and community.

A diagnosis of dementia is not easy. Making a quick connection to a community of support can make a big difference by eliminating uncertainty and unknowns. The Alzheimer Society is the first place to turn – and First Link is the connection to support, care, knowledge, expertise, and referrals.

First Link is the Alzheimer Society program offering approved services and information to those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and care partners. It encompasses the areas of risk reduction, education, living well with the disease, community, research, and advocacy; an umbrella that brings together all aspects of the care and management of dementia in Canada.

With more than half a million Canadians living with dementia today, a number expected to reach almost one million in 10 years, the Alzheimer Society is continuing to enhance its support amongst people living with dementia to meet their needs early in, and throughout, their journey.

The goal of First Link is to ensure a user of the services has the right support and information, from the time of an initial diagnosis and throughout the progression of the disease. By connecting with First Link, a user will have access to all the programs and services available in Simcoe County, including supportive counselling and navigation to Alzheimer Society and other community resources to meet their needs. Persons living with dementia, and care partners will also be linked to education, support groups, and social programs. Staff will provide the appropriate access to the right services during the different stages of the disease.

To get access to services and programs, users are encouraged to call the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County directly or ask their family doctor about being referred to the Alzheimer Society.

Anita’s Story

At age 85, Anita Turgeon is in the later stages of vascular dementia. Three generations of the Turgeon family have been on this journey with Anita but more than that, they have become part of the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County (ASSC) family. Anita and her family have not only accessed many ASSC programs including First Steps, Minds in Motion and the Music Project, but they also gave back. Anita’s daughter served on the ASSC client advisory committee, her granddaughter volunteered for ASSC, and now they are sharing their story to help create awareness for ASSC and the programs and services available to people living with dementia in Simcoe County.

Since Anita was a young girl, she has always shown a love for music. She was blessed with the natural ability to play music by memory, particularly playing the keyboard, steel guitar, and singing and harmonizing in perfect pitch. Anita also enjoyed jamming with family to old time country fiddle music, playing along with the spoons and kazoo. Prior to her diagnosis of dementia, Anita was an active member of a local community musical group called “The Merry Melodiers,” who played at various seniors’ homes within Barrie. Since moving into a long-term care home and progressing into the later stages of dementia, Anita’s cognitive and verbal communication skills have declined. A few years have gone by since Anita has shown an interest in or recognition of her keyboard, despite having it in her room and walking by it daily.

Over the past year however, Anita has been actively participating in weekly music therapy sessions with a music therapist. These sessions have proven to be very healthy, positive, and uplifting experiences for her, and they have greatly impacted her emotional well-being. Josh, her energetic music therapist, has been amazing by motivating and engaging Anita to sing along with rhythm and movement.

Anita’s family members recently reintroduced her to her keyboard, plugging it in and pressing the keys to show her that it makes sound. This is essentially what inspired her family to share this story. Anita sat down, placed her hands on the keyboard andwithin seconds she was miraculously playing, singing, and humming along again to some of her favourite songs, right on queue. The music therapist now plays duets with her, randomly increasing and slowing the pace, as Anita keeps up in perfect time and independently recalls the words to songs. A family member started playing the spoons and then handed them to Anita; she immediately began playing them on her lap and singing along, just like old times.

It’s truly amazing how the mind can retrieve and reintegrate musical abilities. Regular virtual and in-person visits with Anita and her family always involve singing and clapping to some of her favourite “oldie goldies,” as Anita describes them. Music inevitably always brings out the best in her and very positively impacts her mood.