More than 85,000 people live with dementia in B.C. and more than 247,000 are projected to be living with the disease by 2050. As the number of people affected by dementia continues to rise in the Lower Mainland, the importance of dementia education has never been more critical.
For World Alzheimer’s Month in September, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. is offering free webinars that aim to bridge the information gap and foster a well-informed community ready to address the growing challenges associated with dementia.
Flipping stigma in action: Stories of empowerment and courage
The second webinar in the four-part Flipping Stigma series features guest speakers Lynn Jackson and Myrna Norman. They will share their personal stories of living with dementia. Their stories offer powerful windows into their lives – where stigma can continue to play a role.
“Sometimes it’s just a tiny little comment but it may hurt us,” Norman says. “It takes us such a long time to overcome that pain.”
Residents can learn how individuals living with dementia like Jackson and Norman take action against discrimination and have found the courage to respond, educate and encourage others on the dementia journey.
The webinar is for people living with dementia, family members, friends and health-care providers. It takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.
To register, visit: alzbc.org/flipping-stigma-part2.
Research connects: Enhancing dementia research literacy in the age of (mis)information
Dementia-related information has never been easier to find, but how do you know if what’s on the internet, social media and other news sources is accurate and reliable?
Dr. Heather Cooke, Manager of Research and Knowledge Mobilization and in-house researcher at the Alzheimer Society of B.C., will lead an engaging discussion on how to increase research literacy. Participants will learn how to think critically about research, interpret dementia-related research in the news and evaluate the credibility of a story or source.
This 60-minute session is for the general public, offering an opportunity for people from all walks of life to enhance their research literacy and make informed decisions regarding dementia-related matters. The webinar takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.
To register, visit: alzbc.org/research-literacy.
