Alzheimer Society of Huron Perth marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with virtual programming

Local geriatrician Dr. Alenxandra Peel returns with her virtual Talk with the Doc! Presentation over Zoom on Jan. 28. Image courtesy of Alzheimer Society of Huron Perth. Contributed image

Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Beginning this month as part of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the Alzheimer Society of Huron Perth is providing several opportunities for locals to learn virtually about Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, memory and aging, and more.

During Alzheimer’s Awareness Month each January, Alzheimer Societies across Canada unite to challenge dementia stigma and create a community where everyone feels more comfortable talking about dementia and sharing their own experience.

“For our Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, we’re just kind of highlighting three pillars,” said Jessica Lawson, the local Alzheimer Society’s public education coordinator for Perth County. “At the society here, we support people living with dementia and their care partners, and the three pillars are education, support and recreation. We offer client education and public education, we also offer counselling services and support groups and then, with the recreation side of things, we offer group recreation and then we offer in-home recreation services as well.

“ … For Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the key message for Alzheimer Society Canada is ‘Forget no one because no one should face dementia alone.’ ”

For the roughly 3,200 people living with some form of dementia in Perth and Huron counties, their caregivers, family, friends and the wider community, the programming planned by the local Alzheimer Society for this month and beyond is intended to reduce stigma by spreading awareness, support those impacted with information they need to know and create safer and more understanding communities for everyone.

Hosted virtually every January since 2021, local geriatrician Dr. Alexandra Peel is returning with her “Talk with the Doc!” presentation on Zoom from 1:30-3 p.m. Jan. 28. This year’s presentation, entitled “Top Five Geriatric Papers with Dr. Alexandra Peel,” will focus on hot topics and the latest research into dementia medication and treatments, following by a question-and-answer session. Visit https://bit.ly/Doc-Talk2026 to register for this free event.

The Alzheimer Society’s free, one-hour, online education sessions, the Dementia Basics series, also returns this month. With topics of discussion ranging from an overview of dementia and mild cognitive impairment to the common signs of dementia, brain changes and communication tips, the Dementia Basics series runs virtually over Zoom on Monday afternoons and evenings from Jan. 19 to March 9. For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/ASHPEducationHour.

Beginning in February, the Virtual Memory and Aging program is the online version of the local Alzheimer Society’s popular Memory & Aging Course. Running over Zoom every Wednesday from Feb. 4-18 between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., the program covers age-related memory changes, how to optimize brain health and helpful memory strategies. While there is a $25 workbook fee, the Alzheimer Society does offer some financial assistance. Register at https://bit.ly/MAPWinter26.

For those looking for a different way to improve their brain health, the Alzheimer Society also runs two ukulele groups as recreation and an opportunity for area residents meet and socialize virtually with people across Perth and Huron counties. The Golden Ukulele Group meets regularly from October to May and focuses on basic strums and chords, and having fun, while the Beginning Ukulele Group (BUG!) is intended for those new to the instrument, with virtual meetings held every Thursday morning beginning in March. For more information and to register, email jeanettes@alzhp.ca.

Finally, the Alzheimer Society is reminding businesses across Huron and Perth counties, especially those with an aging clientele, about its Dementia-Friendly Communities initiative. According to Lawson, this program offers training on how to reduce the stigma around dementia, increase understanding and support those living with dementia to participate in daily life.

“There are a couple businesses like audiology and optometry clinics that we work with the staff – and we work with any businesses that are interested – in getting that training and how to make their business more dementia inclusive,” Lawson said.

Any local businesses interested in receiving training through the Dementia-Friendly Communities initiative can email Lawson at jessical@alzhp.ca.

For more information on the Alzheimer Society of Huron Perth and the programs and services it offers, visit alzheimer.ca/huronperth.