John’s stories tend to meander these days. A conversation that starts about the weather might weave its way into a vivid description of catching a ride to the local pub in a convertible the night before. The details are a little foggy, and the line between reality and fiction is increasingly blurred.
“I just try to meet him wherever he is in that moment,” says John’s son, Alexander. “I try to be patient, and engage with him however I can. He usually changes the subject after awhile, and comes back closer to where we really stand today.”
At 82, John’s living with some form of dementia — a diagnosis his family is working to solidify. Progressing through a network of referrals, cognitive tests and waiting lists: it’s not a straightforward process. That said, it’s more common than many of us think. John and his family certainly aren’t alone.
Dementia rates rising in Canada, and Montreal is no exception
More than 1 million Canadians will be living with dementia by 2030. That’s a big number — one expected to increase significantly in the years ahead. By 2050, the Alzheimer Society of Canada projects a 187% uptick in the number of people living with dementia. With so many different forms of dementia (Alzheimer’s disease being the most common), it’s fair to say: people will experience the condition in different ways.
Here in Quebec, more than 125,000 people live with Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia. That includes 33,000 in Montreal alone.
“We certainly feel the impacts of that growing Alzheimer’s and dementia population among our clients in Montreal,” says Joey Taylor, General Manager of home care assistance provider, TheKey Montreal. “We recognize that every client is unique, and we tailor our caregiving approach to their specific needs and cognitive capacity. I think that’s what really makes the difference, not only for our clients’ quality of life, but for the family’s wellbeing, too.”
For Taylor, success means starting client relationships with a deep understanding and assessment of the individual, the right caregiver fit and a reliance on TheKey’s Cognitive Therapeutic MethodTM. “Our caregivers follow this method to provide holistic care for clients with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. We focus on the right interventions for each individual, whether we’re proactively flexing those muscles to support cognitive function or supporting someone who already lives with dementia.”
Personalized, in-home dementia care across the greater Montreal area
Designed by experts to boost brain health for people at any level of cognitive function, the Cognitive Therapeutic Method touches on all five aspects of cognition:
- Memory (retaining information to use later on)
- Visual-spatial perception (accurately perceiving an objective person’s location and understanding the relationship between objects)
- Executive functioning (reasoning, problem solving, judgement and thought flexibility)
- Attention (focusing on a specific piece of information for a long period of time, even in the face of competing distractions)
- Language (executing verbal functions, including spontaneous speech, speech repetition and comprehension, naming, reading and writing)
From prompts that move the client to answer questions about a picture they’ve just seen to lacing cards that help clients form patterns: individual activities are mixed and matched so folks can exercise their minds and, above all? Have some fun.
“Caregiving isn’t just about providing the necessities of life,” Taylor says. “It’s also about quality of life. By incorporating these kinds of activities as part of in-home care, we offer clients a chance to work on cognitive function in ways that feel enjoyable and engaging. That’s our priority.”
That’s true for John’s family, too. Alexander and his siblings are keen to provide a more well-rounded life experience for their dad, even as his dementia progresses. “Having a caregiver that we know is going to engage with him when we’re not there, and bring a little more happiness into his days? For us, that can make a huge and positive difference.”
Considering in-home dementia care or have questions about the types of support we offer? Our specialists are here to help determine the best plan to meet your parent’s or loved one’s needs. Contact TheKey today to get started.