If you have three Nanaimo residents in a room, chances are good one of them knows someone with Alzheimer’s disease.
That’s how prevalent the disease has become, according to the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
The statistics are more than just numbers for Jane Hope, the society’s support and education coordinator for the central Island. She works with local families every day who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
To further help families in the Nanaimo area, the society is offering a free workshop, Getting to Know Dementia, on, May 8.
It provides basic information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and the challenges of receiving a diagnosis.
Participants also learn about the different types of support available throughout the dementia journey, and how to begin planning for the future.
Open to people with a diagnosis of dementia, care partners and family members, the workshop runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the Alzheimer Resource Centre, 200-1585 Bowen Rd.
Pre-registration is required. To sign up, please call Hope at 250-734-4170 or e-mail jhope@alzheimerbc.org. Donations are gratefully accepted.
For more information on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, please go to www.alzheimerbc.org.