The focus for Alzheimer Awareness Month in January is community.
Tracy Koskamp-Bergeron is executive director of the Alzheimer Society branch serving Cochrane and Timiskaming Districts. She says caregivers can stay connected with family and friends, and get support from her organization.
Dementia patients thrive on routine, which is difficult during the pandemic. Koskamp-Bergeron says sticking to your loved one’s routines,such as breakfast and bathing times, makes them more cooperative. And that helps you support them.
“Because you’re in tune to their needs rather than yours,” she adds. “And by meeting their needs, your needs are going to be met, because your stress level’s going to be much lower.”
Help from the society is never more than a phone call away. Koskamp-Bergeron says its Facebook page contains videos answering frequently asked questions.
“Keeping the videos short, two to three minutes long, and there’s lots of information on there for caregivers as well to be able to access a how-to video for different things if they can’t get a hold of somebody right away.”
That’s only one resource Koskamp-Bergeron mentioned during our interview. Here it is in its entirety.
Tracy Koskamp-Bergeron
(Google Meet)
