WELLINGTON COUNTY – Each January, the Alzheimer Society leads and supports Canada’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Month – this year’s theme bringing attention to Canadians and breaking the stigma.
Nearly half-a-million Canadians live with dementia. This number is expected to reach one million in the next decade, according to the Alzheimer Society.
During this month, the society is encouraging organizations and individuals across Canada to learn more about dementia and its impact on Canadians.
“Alzheimer’s disease is actually only one type of dementia, but it is the most common type of dementia,” said Michelle Martin, executive director at Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington.
“It’s really Dementia Awareness Month, but since 70 per cent of people who are living with dementia are living with Alzheimer’s, that’s a little bit easier to market.”
Currently, there are 16,500 people in the Waterloo Wellington area living with a dementia diagnosis.
Martin said others are living with dementia but have not yet been formally diagnosed.
Risk factors
There are two kinds of risk factors for dementia: non-modifiable and modifiable.
Non-modifiable risk factors are ones that cannot be changed or eliminated, such as aging, air pollution and family genetics.
However, most cases of dementia are not related to genetics, but the chance of getting dementia can increase with age.
The likelihood of being diagnosed with dementia is six times higher in people aged 80 and over, compared to those aged 65-79 (Canada.ca).
“Research hasn’t really provided a number, like 30% of people will pass [dementia] onto their loved ones … with the modifiable risk factors, you can change that projection, even if there is a history or hereditary factor,” said Martin.
Modifiable dementia risk factors are ones that can be controlled by taking action, such as:
– staying active;
– avoiding smoking;
– limiting alcohol consumption;
– reducing head injuries by wearing a helmet when you bike, ski, etc.; and
– managing chronic health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
“Even going for a walk can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia by 40% by just adding two and a half hours of physical activity to your life every week, which we can all do,” said Martin.
Limiting alcohol consumption is another factor in preventing dementia that Martin emphasized.
She told the Advertiser the latest guidelines state that “no amount of alcohol is actually safe for a person living with dementia,” and the guidelines on alcohol consumption for people who aren’t living with dementia, to reduce the risk, is no more than two drinks per week.
Ways to support
The main ways you can do your part in supporting Alzheimer’s awareness in 2024 include:
– supporting this year’s campaign. The alzheimer.ca website has a community toolkit that includes suggested text for posting about the campaign on social media and accompanying images;
– connect with your local society and see how to get involved;
– learn more about dementia, which can help someone identify warning signs and get them an early diagnosis, as well as help someone live as well with dementia as possible;
– listen to the stories of people with lived experience. The “best” way to understand the impact of dementia is to hear directly from people who have lived experience.
Local society
The local Alzheimer Society in Wellington County is the Waterloo Wellington branch, located in Guelph at 25 Wellington St. W. Unit 202.
“There’s no charge for any of our services,” Martin stated. “We provide lots of education, and that can be for you, or for someone living with dementia.”
“They don’t have to have a diagnosis. We provide social work support [and] a lot of counselling to both the person living with dementia and their care partners.
“We also do support groups, [it is] really important for people to feel like they’re not alone and be connected with other people who are walking that same journey.”
The society also has “fun” exercise programs for those living with dementia because “people living with dementia need to have some fun too.”
Hours of operation at the Waterloo Wellington office are Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4pm. Contact the office by phone at 519-836-7672 or by email at asww@alzheimerww.ca.
To learn more about Alzheimer’s and dementia visit alzheimer.ca.
