As people age, they become afraid to talk about Alzheimer’s in particular, and dementia in general. But this is a mistake. According to recent statistics, more than 23,000 Manitobans have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, and by 2038 this number is expected to rise to 40,700.

“People don’t want to see themselves in those shoes,” says Damien Gagne. As the coordinator for Niverville Services to Seniors, he’s on the frontline of the battle. “That’s why some people don’t want to talk about cancer or other diseases. Because they feel like, ‘I don’t want my parents to end up like that. I don’t want to end up like that.’”

But talking about it is the first step to preventing it, he says.

Education and Prevention

Education helps with early prevention through healthier eating habits and ongoing exercises to stimulate the brain before it begins to slide.

“You’re supposed to start getting ready for Alzheimer’s 20 years before you get it,” Gagne says. “In other words, once you get it it’s almost too late. You should have been trying to avoid it or get ready for it well before the symptoms start.”

To that end, Gagne provides a variety of programs for anyone 55 years of age or older throughout the year. These include classes on healthy eating and exercise, educational programs, and community building initiatives to help curb the loneliness that takes a toll on so many aging seniors.

Education programs take place on a monthly basis while weekly fitness classes and a walking club round out the active side of things. This summer, seniors will find the fitness classes at Hespeler Park, where balance and coordination are the focus.

“My role is a little bit more on the preventative side,” Gagne adds. “The [staff] in the personal care home would have a lot more one on one with people with Alzheimer’s. My goal is to keep people as independent as possible for as long as possible… [I try and] provide the resources that you need to help you stay out of the personal care home for as long as you can.”

This past year, Gagne teamed up with the chronic disease education team from Open Health to provide healthy eating classes and chronic illness awareness. He’s also worked on ways to incorporate gardening into that model.

To support socializing, the upcoming summer will include a number of fun senior outings, like Goldeyes games and trips to Assiniboine Park. For the fall, Gagne has hired an athletic therapist to host chair-fit classes at Silver Courts. Thanks to a government grant, the classes will be free to attend from September to January.

Finding Support

Prevention has become Gagne’s focus not just because of the devastating effect it can have on sufferers, but because of the effects that dementia has on their loved ones, too.

“The family starts to mourn the loss of their family member and they’re not even dead yet,” Gagne says. “It’s sad. It’s just a horrible disease… and I think it’s also terrifying for the people who actually have it because they get to a point where they don’t even know who they are anymore, they don’t know where they are… and they feel like no one’s listening to them.”

Family or friends desiring Alzheimer’s support and education can find it at the Heritage Life Personal Care Home every second Wednesday in the Education Room from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m.

“Support groups are there for people who want to inform themselves with current information that will help improve quality of life with the disease,” says Jen Reimer, the southeast regional coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Society. “It’s a safe environment where you can learn, laugh, and help each other through mutual understanding.”

And for family members wishing for extra assistance for their aging loved ones, Gagne is the Victoria Lifeline coordinator for Niverville. The Victoria Lifeline is a not-for-profit service of the Victoria General Hospital Foundation, offering a variety of personal help devices created to respond when the wearer falls or finds themselves in a crisis situation.

“One of the things people often don’t realize is that there’s a subsidy program [for Lifeline]” Gagne says. The subsidy is based on a senior’s income and can save the user up to half of the cost. “They can either call the Victoria Lifeline directly or they can call me and I’ll call Victoria Lifeline and get them all [set up].”

The Alzheimer’s Walk

Dig out your walking shoes and join your friends at the annual Niverville Walk for Alzheimer’s Awareness event on June 1. Organized by Niverville Services to Seniors, the walk will begin at 9:45 a.m. at the Heritage Centre and culminate at Hespeler Park with a free barbecue lunch and closing ceremonies.

All proceeds raised will go to the Alzheimer’s Association of Manitoba to help create awareness about dementia and help promote prevention and management strategies.

Similar walks will be taking place around the province this summer. Last year, according to Gagne, a Niverville team raised approximately $5,000 for the cause. This year, he has set his target a little higher: $7,000.

Complimentary team shirts will be awarded to those who raise $100 or more, or teams of ten that collectively raise over $1,000. Volunteers will be available at the Heritage Centre on the day of the walk to collect donations. Tax receipts will be provided for donations of $15 or more.

“I want to grow [the event] a little more [here in Niverville],” Gagne says. “I think it is going to be bigger than before and I think it’s going to be a really successful event.”

Two different routes have been chosen for Saturday’s walk, depending on the participant’s capabilities. All participants will begin at the roundabout near the Heritage Centre Gardens.

The short walk will travel up Second Avenue and go directly to Hespeler Park. The longer route, approximately two kilometres, will travel up Heritage Trail, proceed along Main Street, and circle back to Hespeler Park. Gagne chose to include Main Street along the route in the hope that it will garner visibility.

Rain or shine, Gagne says, the walk will go on.

“There’s no escape for people with Alzheimer’s, so we may as well have to take a hit too,” he says.