A group of area residents hope to start a program for people impacted by dementia.
Carol Craig, a counsellor with the Flin Flon and District Assessment and Referral Service, wishes to start a new program for people affected by the neurological illness with the cooperation of the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.
“We’re in the primary stages. I’m looking at talking with the Alzheimer Society, seeing what they have, if they have a group facilitation program and if we have somebody in the community who might run that. If not, we might possibly pick it up. It depends on the demand,” she said, adding she has spoken with several people who expressed interest in getting involved.
“There is a definite need,” she said. “Right now, it’s more asking whether it needs to be a mass group or if it ends up being only a few people. Whatever it needs to be, we can access that information.”
It is estimated that there are more than 22,500 Manitobans who currently have some form of dementia. By 2038, the Alzheimer Society anticipates more than 40,000 Manitobans will be diagnosed with the disease.
The irregular habits spurred on by the disease can be confusing and frightening for dementia sufferers, and the unusual behaviours associated with the disease can put considerable strain on family members and caregivers.
“We have space that we can offer and we know there is a need,” said Craig, adding, “We’re in the baby steps stage.”
The program would be run in cooperation with the Alzheimer Society and other related groups and would be fairly informal, operating independent of the Northern Health Region.
Jeannette Rigby’s husband suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, one of the more common forms of dementia. She said she has had to change her own life and habits dramatically to help treat her husband’s symptoms.
“I now agree with everything he says. That’s made a huge difference. Once I saw that, in five minutes, he forgot what I told him, I thought to myself, ‘What the hell am I explaining for? What am I repeating or correcting for?’” she said.
“I just thought I would do no more of that. That has calmed things down at home a lot. I hide a lot of things. Important things, I’ve got to hide them, because otherwise they disappear – he’ll take them.”
Rigby said she has received adequate assistance in Flin Flon, including home care for her husband, but has had issues with medical appointments in far-off places.
“I’ve been really lucky. We hit some bumps along the way, of course, when you’re dealing with appointments and professionals and all that stuff,” she said.
Rigby is interested in the group and hopes to have more people come forward to share their experience with the disease.
“So far, we’re spreading it by word of mouth,” she said.
Anyone who has been impacted by dementia and would like to be a part of a group or program can call Carol at (306) 362-2120.
