Gail’s brother gets lost in his own stories these days. A conversation that starts about the weather weaves its way into a vivid description of catching a ride to the local pub in a convertible the night before. The details are foggy; the line between reality and fiction increasingly blurred.
“He’s still my brother,” says Gail. “You just have to meet him in the conversation wherever he is. But he’s still there. We have to be patient with him.”
Gail knows her 82-year-old brother is living with some form of dementia — a diagnosis the family is working to solidify. It’s a long trip from her home in British Columbia’s iconic Quadra Island to visit him in Montreal. She’s keen to stay connected, though, as he progresses through a network of referrals, cognitive tests and waiting lists. That said, it’s more common than many of us think. Gail and her family certainly aren’t alone.
British Columbia poised to see a 218% uptick in dementia in the years ahead
More than 1 million Canadians will be living with dementia by 2030. That’s a big number — one expected to increase significantly over the next two decades. Here in B.C., researchers predict a 218% increase in dementia cases by 2050. That pegs the province among the country’s four regions where dementia cases are growing the fastest.
With so many different forms of dementia (Alzheimer’s disease being the most common), it’s fair to say people will experience it differently. This has a direct impact on the informal care partner role that many family members take on at home. Along with the rise in cases, researchers predict the number of care partners in Canada to nearly triple by 2050.
“I’ve really never seen two dementia cases that are exactly the same,” says Sharon Speirs, General Manager of TheKey Vancouver. “As more Alzheimer’s and dementia occurs in Vancouver and B.C. overall, it’s going to be important for caregivers like ours to tweak their approach to meet individual needs. I’ve always believed that’s what allows us to make such a positive impact for the clients we take care of.”
Speirs says initiating client relationships with a deep understanding and assessment of the individual, the right caregiver fit and a reliance on The Key’s Cognitive Therapeutic MethodTM are essential pieces in that puzzle. “You cannot apply a single ‘way’ of caring for seniors. Whether someone has Alzheimer’s disease, another form of dementia or is just beginning to experience some of the memory loss that comes along with typical aging: successful caregiving relationships are personal. They require us to talk openly and honestly with families and tailor our interventions to their priorities.”
Bringing a personal touch to in-home dementia care in Vancouver and six nearby cities
Designed by experts to boost brain health for people at any level of cognitive function, TheKey’s 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.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our caregivers empower seniors with dementia to live well at home,” says Speirs. “When we bring together the right mix of activities and support, in-home care can provide our clients with a chance to flex their cognitive muscle while feeling safe and secure in their own home. This is how we create a sense of wellbeing for clients and their families.”
That’s true for Gail’s family, too. Her nieces and nephews are keen to provide their dad with a more well-rounded life experience, even as his dementia progresses. “To know that a caregiver is going to engage with him meaningfully, really bring a little more levity to his days? That’s so reassuring for all of us, including my brother. He can feel the difference, too.”
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.