Alzheimer’s Society bringing back monthly support group in Sharbot Lake

Jeff Green | Mar 18, 2015

By Jeff Green

Katie Doran, the education and support co-ordinator with the Alzheimer Society of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, will be facilitating a support group for caregivers on the first Tuesday of each month at 1 pm at the Seniors’ Centre at the United Church in Sharbot Lake. The first meeting takes place on April 7.

“The Alzheimer’s Society is here to support people through their journey with the disease or those who are caring for someone with the disease,” said Doran.

Doran said she will be bringing information with her to the support group meetings and will be prepared to make presentations, but that the participants will really determine what kinds of topics are addressed and how.

“My role tends to be that of a facilitator. There are so many common experiences that caregivers face that they tend to take the group in the direction that is most useful for themselves.”

In addition to running the group, Doran, who has been working with the Alzheimer’s Society since last June and is partly responsible for services in the rural areas, hopes to raise the profile of the society in Frontenac County, which has flagged a bit in the last couple of years.

“We run a number of programs and provide a lot of support and referrals,” she said. “The emotional side of care-giving is something that we pay particular attention to.”

Among the programs that the Alzheimer’s Society has championed is a music program. People with dementia often respond to music and the society offers an i-pad with earphones, pre-programmed with music chosen by the individual and/or their family. The service is offered for free, including the loan of the i-pad.

There is also a drop-in centre at the society’s headquarters in Kingston, but in Frontenac County the option of home visits by Doran or one of her colleagues is more popular, because of the isolation.

Anyone who is interested in the Sharbot Lake support group can call the Alzheimer’s Society for details at 613-544-3078 or can just show up at the seniors’ centre in April 7.

There is an ongoing support group out of the Grace Centre in Sydenham as well, which meets on the last Thursday of each month at 7 pm.