Alzheimer Information Guide Winter 2024

There are approximately 3,000 persons living with a form of dementia in Lambton County.
Our Case for Support
You can help alleviate the
personal and social consequences
of Alzheimer’s disease and other
dementias. Dementia is not a normal
part of aging.
Many people experience some
memory loss as they get older. But only
a portion of people develop dementia
that progresses from mild to severe
over several years. Dementia, like
any other health condition, requires
treatment and interventions to allow
the person affected to have the best
quality of life possible. Each year the
Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton
helps close to 1000 people live better
with dementia.
With few medical options to slow
the progression of dementia and no
cure, a diagnosis of dementia can feel
hopeless and isolating. The services
provided by the Alzheimer Society
help to reduce the stigma associated
with dementia and ensure people
living with this disease have a network
of support and the help they need to
live well. Supports and services are
provided to both the person living
with dementia and their care partner
to help them navigate the dementia
journey from the very beginning.
We have come a long way in the past
five years, introducing new programs
and services and doubling the number
of clients we serve. However, our
population is aging and the number
of people living with dementia is
expected to triple within the next 30
By Marie Marcy-Smids
years. We are already experiencing
strain on our capacity to meet the
needs of our clients, and we know this
will only get worse.
Wait times result in unnecessary
hospital admission and early
admission to long-term care
Currently, our clients face waits of
up to three weeks for intake. This is
simply not acceptable. Many of those
who reach out to us do so in the later
stages of their dementia journey when
they have reached a point of crisis; a
time when they need service in that
moment. If supports are not accessible
at the time they are needed, the only
option is to access service through the
emergency department, resulting in
hospital admission or early admission
to long-term care. This situation
is avoidable. Family care partners
deserve better. People living with
dementia deserve better, and you can
help.
The Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-
Lambton is fortunate to receive
funding from Ontario Health, but it
is not enough. It is not enough now,
as we face a $125,000 deficit just to
maintain our current service levels;
and it will not be enough in the
coming years as the need for service
continues to grow. Your financial gift
and support can directly affect our wait
times for service and help us expand
programming. It will directly improve
the quality of life for both people living
with dementia and their care partners.
SLEEP HEALTH SERVICES
& CPAP SUPPLIES
Sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s are directly linked. Many studies
show that sleep apnea can contribute to paents developing
Alzheimer’s disease and many people with Alzheimer’s do have
sleep apnea. Restwell would like to recognize Alzheimer’s
disease by helping our community in any way we can. If you
think you have problems sleeping, give us a call today!
• Free CPAP Machine Consultaon & Assessment
• CPAP Supplies & Sleep Accessories
• Home Sleep Apnea Tesng
- In your home, no wait list, professionally
analyzed & sent to your doctor in 1-2 weeks
• Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Joel Clarke
RPSGT, RCT
Execuve
Director
481 London Rd
Sarnia, ON
226-776-8891
RestwellSarnia.ca
Please contact us for more informaon - We are always happy to help!
Memory loss that affects
Sign1
day-to-day abilities
It is normal to occasionally forget
appointments, colleagues’ names or a friend’s
phone number only to remember them a
short while later. However, a person with
Alzheimer’s disease may forget things more
often or may have difficulty recalling
information that has recently been learned.
Difficulty performing
Sign2
familiar tasks
Busy people can be so distracted from time
to time that they may forget to serve part of
a meal, only to remember about it later.
However, a person with Alzheimer’s disease
may have trouble completing tasks that have
been familiar to them all their lives, such as
preparing a meal or playing a game.
Problems with
Sign3
language
Anyone can have trouble finding the right
word to express what they want to say.
However, a person with Alzheimer’s disease
may forget simple words or may substitute
words such that what they are saying is
difficult to understand.
Disorientation in time
Sign4
and space
It is common to forget the day of the week or
ones destination - for a moment. But people
with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost on
their own street, not knowing how they got
there or how to get home.
10
Impaired
Sign5
judgment
From time to time, people may make
questionable decisions such as putting off
seeing a doctor when they are not feeling
well. However, a person with Alzheimer’s
disease may experience changes in judgment
or decision-making, such as not recognizing a
medical problem that needs attention or
wearing heavy clothing on a hot day.
Problems with abstract
Sign6
thinking
From time to time, people may have
difficulty with tasks that require abstract
thinking, such as balancing a chequebook.
However, someone with Alzheimer’s disease
may have significant difficulties with such
tasks because of a loss of understanding
what numbers are and how they are used.
Misplacing things
Sign7
Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or
keys. However, a person with Alzheimer’s
disease may put things in inappropriate
places: for example, an iron in the freezer or
a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
Is it Alzheimer’s disease?
WARNING
SIGNS
Changes in
Sign
8
mood and behaviour
Anyone can feel sad or moody from time to
time. However, someone with Alzheimer’s
disease can show varied mood swings - from
calmness to tears to anger - for no apparent
reason.
Sign Changes in personality
9
Personalities can change in subtle ways over
time. However, a person with
Alzheimer’s disease may experience more
striking personality changes and can become
confused, suspicious or withdrawn. Changes
may also include lack of interest, fearfulness
or acting out of character.
Sign Loss of initiative
10
It is normal to tire of housework, business
activities or social obligations, but most
people regain their initiative. However, a
person with Alzheimer’s disease may become
passive and disinterested, and require cues
and prompting to become involved.
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