The Alzheimer Society Sudbury-Manitoulin North Bay & Districts will be hosting a Circle of Hope Education Workshop on Wednesday, January 25th at the Elks Lodge in North Bay. The event, which is open to the public, will help mark National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and is open to the public. Persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, their care partners, local health professionals, or individuals interested in learning more about the disease and brain health are invited to attend.
Registration begins at 9 AM and sessions will commence at 9:30 AM and run until 3:30 PM. Topics include Planning Ahead, Power of Attorney, Dementia and Depression, and Dealing with Grief. The afternoon will include a Lived Experience Panel with testimonials from persons living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, as well as local caregivers.
Dementia costs the Canadian economy $33 billion per year. By the year 2040, as baby boomers continue to age, the number of people diagnosed will more than double and the strain on our national economy will skyrocket to $293 billion per year.
Currently, over 1500 people in the North Bay district are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Many more go without a formal diagnosis as a result of having no family physician in the area, or a lack of knowledge regarding common warning signs for the disease. People caring for someone with dementia provide 75% more care hours than any other caregiver—stress and depression levels are continuing to rise in this population. It is possible to live well with dementia by getting informed, being prepared, and maintain an active lifestyle, both physically and mentally. The Circle of Hope Workshop is an excellent opportunity to get education and learn more about available services and resources in the North Bay area.
Tickets are $25 per person and include lunch and refreshments. If individuals are interested in attending but are concerned about finances, there are subsidy options available. Please contact the Alzheimer Society office for more information at 705-495-4342.
