Upcoming: Summit 2024

Presenter

Session Title/Description

Arlene Astell
Associate Professor, and Director, Dementia Aging Technology Engagement (DATE) Lab
University of Toronto

Computer Interactive Reminiscing and Conversation Aid (CIRCA-CA)

CIRCA-CA is a multimedia conversation support for people living with dementia that provides conversation sparks. The multimedia database of more than 2000 photographs, music, and videoclips evoke memories and stimulate discussion, singing and sharing. Originally created in the UK, CIRCA has been shown to improve cognition and quality of life of people living with dementia and promote caregiving relationships.

Danielle Bellamy
Saskatchewan Health Authority

DementiAbility – practical methods for improving dementia care

DementiAbility reiterates the importance of resident centered care, and provides straightforward approaches that improve the quality of lives of those we care for. This session will provide an overview of an exciting education program that provides practical methods for staff and family members to apply when providing care to individuals living with dementia, and will highlight successes as a result of the implementation of these methods within Long Term Care homes in Rural Saskatchewan.

Paulette Hunter, Associate Professor, St. Thomas More College
University of Saskatchewan
Abigail Wickson-Griffiths, Associate Professor,
University of Regina

Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care - covering the What, Why, Impact, and Getting Started. 

Nuelle Novik, University of Regina
Project Group Member of Dementia Supports in Rural Saskatchewan

Dementia Supports in Rural Saskatchewan: Project Windup and Key Accomplishments

Dementia Supports in Rural Saskatchewan was a five-year initiative (2019-2024) undertaken by the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), University of Regina. The project objectives were to improve public awareness of dementia, reduce stigma, and improve the feeling of social inclusion of older adults living with dementia and their care partners. This was accomplished through implementing a collective impact approach with eight projects to deliver individual, community and organizational interventions to those living in small cities and rural communities. This presentation will reflect on key accomplishments, challenges experienced and sustainability plans for each of the projects.

Dr. Andrew Kirk – Neurologist
RaDAR Team Investigator
University of Saskatchewan

Drawing on Both Sides of the Brain

This presentation will address how constructional abilities are affected by brain disease including strokes and dementia.

Carrie McAiney
Associate Professor; Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia
University of Waterloo

Forward with Dementia: Hope for Living Well

Forward with Dementia is an initiative that combats stigma associated with dementia and provides hope that people with dementia can live well. The Forward with Dementia website was co-designed with people living with dementia, family care partners, health and social care providers, and researchers. It provides information, practical resources, and inspiring stories from people living with dementia and care partners about their experiences with dementia. The website has recently expanded to include resources adapted for the Chinese, South Asian and Italian communities. The presentation will highlight this work and how it can support people impacted by dementia.

Laura Middleton
Associate Professor; Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia and Active Living
University of Waterloo

The DELIGHT Program: Supporting hope, health, and wellbeing when living with dementia

 The DEmentia Lifestyle Intervention Program for Getting Healthy Together (DELIGHT) aims to promote hope, health, and wellbeing of people living with dementia and care partners. DELIGHT was co-designed by people with dementia, care partners, health and social care providers, and researchers with the goal of promoting. This presentation will review the co-design, implementation, and evaluation of DELIGHT, focusing on the adaptation and implementation of DELIGHT for rural Saskatchewan.  DELIGHT is an 8-week program of exercise and shared learning related healthy eating, physical activity, social support, mental well-being, sleep. Results support DELIGHT as a strategy to promote living well with dementia.

Karla Rasmussen
Senior’s Centre Without Walls
Saskatchewan

Seniors’ Centre Without Walls (SCWW) offers a free telephone program providing opportunities for seniors aged 55+ to socialize, learn new skills and stay connected. Sessions are one-hour, multi-person conversations; no special equipment is required.

Participants experience a reduction in social isolation and loneliness, as well as exercise analytical thinking skills in making connections between their own lives and the themes in the phone presentations.

The Western Development Museum - Moose Jaw (WDM) has made monthly Saskatchewan heritage presentations for SCWW. One of several community-partner organizations, WDM Programs Manager Karla Rasmussen will share her experiences from the Museum’s perspective.

Jennifer Roberts
Dementia Services Development Centre - Wales
Bangor University [UK]

“It’s a Postcode Lottery”: How do people affected by dementia in Wales experience their diagnosis and post-diagnostic support, and how may these be improved?

 As we anticipate development of the next iteration of the Dementia Action Plan in Wales (UK), we explored whether aims of the Action Plan around assessment, diagnosis, and post-diagnostic support are being realized. People living with dementia and carers reported both positive and negative experiences, reflecting a ‘postcode lottery’ of support. Attainable recommendations for improvement were made by respondents, which would ultimately likely be cost-effective and reduce strain on formal services. The findings concur with those reported by people living with dementia in other countries, indicating their relevance for policymakers beyond Wales.

Kaleta Strain – CEO
Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan

Recent data from the Alzheimer Society’s Landmark Studies suggests we are expecting to see the number of people living with dementia in Saskatchewan to more than double in the next 30 years. This research has further explored the changes in the ethnocultural demographics of older adults; how healthcare inequities are affecting people’s experience with dementia and how Canada’s changing demographics are creating many new faces of dementia in Canada.

Debra Morgan
RaDAR Team Lead Investigator
University of Saskatchewan

Keynote Session {Delivered LIVE with a live Q&A session with Debra}

The Rural Dementia Action Research Program: 25 years of Rural Dementia Research in Saskatchewan.
 
At Summit 2024, RaDAR Team Lead, Dr. Debra Morgan, will review the trajectory of the RaDAR research program since 1997, with an emphasis on the strategies used to engage decision-makers in guiding the research program, and the impact of this community-based approach on our research.

Josh Armstong
Assistant Professor
Lakehead Univeristy

LIVE Session {Delivered LIVE with a live Q&A session moderated by Debra Morgan}

The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada: Navigating the Changing Demographic Landscape

Jackie Washenfelder
Kristen Kosar
SaskAbilities
Yorkton, Saskatchewan

Lived Experiences Panel {Delivered LIVE with a live Q&A session with panel members}

This presentation will focus on the Yorkton area SaskAbilities Life Enrichment Project for people affected by dementia. This project received funding from the Dementia Supports in Rural SK study led by Dr. Bonnie Jeffery.