Innovations in dementia care

In 2022, Vernon was selected as one of 25 communities to receive a grant to assess their community for age and dementia friendliness. In November 2023, the City, along with the Vernon Seniors Action Network (VSAN), held a series of workshops to train staff and service providers on understanding dementia and how to deliver appropriate programs and services.

Interior Health has been participating on VSAN since its inception. IH members include experts in seniors and dementia care, and Health Community Development team members. As a member of VSAN, IH has been involved in the development of the Age & Dementia Friendly Community Plan for the City of Vernon. The plan will be going to Council early this year for endorsement.

Says Janelle Rimell of IH’s Healthy Community Development team, “The City of Vernon and the Vernon Seniors Action Network are a great example of a partnership which has brought the community together to create safe, inclusive spaces.

"Once this plan is adopted by Council, it will provide staff the go ahead to apply an age and dementia-friendly lens to community planning, policy development and implementation to make aging a place a reality for older adults and those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s in Vernon. Improvements to city places and spaces, housing and transportation, and increasing social inclusion will be some of the tangible outcomes of the plan.” 

Memory cafés began in Europe sometime in the late 1990s. It’s believed the concept started in the Netherlands. These inclusive cafés provide a safe, non-judgmental space for those with dementia and their caregivers to gather, share stories and enjoy each other’s company.

In Penticton, OneSky Community Resources, the Seniors Wellness Society and the Penticton Public Library collaborate to offer Coffee Connections. Every Monday morning, seniors with dementia and their caregivers meet in the library’s auditorium to enjoy coffee, treats, games – and even dancing. Caregivers can share experiences, advice and resources, and enjoy some respite from their duties. Attendance is free.

The MINT Memory Clinic in Cranbrook provides compassionate, team-based memory care to residents in the area. At a MINT clinic – which stands for multi-specialty inter-professional team – a group of doctors, nurses and social workers work together with a dementia patient’s family doctor to provide ongoing care to the patient and their caregivers, all from one location.

Dr. Linda Lee, along with her team in Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, created this not-for-profit model of care in 2005. Today, there are more than 120 MINT clinics across Canada, with more set to open.

“MINT clinics have proven not only efficient and cost-effective, but our patients experience up to a 50 per cent reduction in wait times to accessing care,” says Dr. Lee. “They also have fewer and shorter emergency department visits and can stay at home longer before they enter long-term care.”

In an Alzheimer Society landmark study, one of the calls to action was to address and reduce stigma. Stigma can arise from misunderstanding, stereotypes, negative attitudes and poor assumptions. Here are 10 ways you can fight stigma against dementia.

At UBC, an Action Group of researchers and people with lived experiences publishes a website called Flipping Stigma which was generated from knowledge gathered during their research project. The site offers resources to recognize and respond to stigma and build skills to change how society views people with dementia.

The ASRP Exchange was a webinar series that featured innovative, cutting-edge researchers funded through the Alzheimer Society Research Program. Topics included how music can improve dementia care, technologies used in hospital care, stigma and much more. Watch the videos here.

This is the fourth and final story in our series on dementia and Alzheimer's disease in recognition of Alzheimer's Awareness Month. Learn about resources and programs to help people living with the disease and their caregivers lead fulfilling lives with the support of their community.

Other stories in this series:

Why dementia is not a normal part of aging and what you can do

How dementia is diagnosed and what to expect

Caring for a loved one with dementia – and for yourself

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