Mark the date for Dementia Learning Series

The Dementia Learning Series is coming to Astorville in East Ferris and Mattawa.

Hosted by Alzheimer Society Sudbury-Manitoulin North Bay & Districts, the Dementia Learning Series is a four-week (two consecutive hours per weekly session) education series tailored for care partners, persons living with dementia in the early stages and those eager to grasp the essentials of dementia care.

The series offers attendees insights into dementia, effective communication strategies, navigating behavior changes, and building a support network.

The sessions have been well-received, noted Erin Celebre, Public Education Coordinator with the Alzheimer Society. “We do have a pretty good turn out. We try not to have the groups be too large for this type of session, so we aim to have 20 participants.”

The Learning Series is free to attend, but to keep the number of participants around that 20 mark, pre-registration is required.

“We’re trying to get education out to anyone who is looking to learn,” Celebre added. The series is ideal for “a care partner, a family, a friend, or an organization who may be looking to increase their knowledge around dementia.”

Celebre elaborated on that last point, noting the Alzheimer Society is often “out in the community in the way of being at businesses where the owner or management is looking to help their employees, and their staff understand what it’s like for someone who’s living with dementia.”

“There really aren’t any limits if someone’s looking to learn about it,” Celebre said, “we’ll do out best to find a session that’s appropriate for that particular audience.”

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Overall, Celebre emphasized these outreach educational programs held by Alzheimer Society Sudbury-Manitoulin North Bay & Districts are “for people to understand the essentials of dementia care and what it may be like for someone living the dementia journey.”

“I feel very grateful to be able to be in this role and to help educate people on this topic,” Celebre said.

The Dementia Learning Series takes place in Astorville at the East Ferris Public Library at 1257 Village Road. The sessions are on Tuesdays, from 1 to 3 p.m. and take place on October 1, 8, 15, and 22.

The sessions in Mattawa are held at the Mattawa Golden Age Club at 464 Poplar Street. The sessions take place on Wednesdays, from 1 to 3 p.m. on October 9, 16, 23, and Friday, November 1.

For more information or to register, please contact Erin Celebre, Public Education Coordinator, at 705-495-4342 x245 or email Erin at [email protected].

David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.