Education for Families and Friends in Simcoe County

Program Offerings

See below for the list of education programs that we offer for families and friends (care partners) of people living with dementia.

First Steps

This is a 4-week introductory series for people living with dementia and their care partners to help understand their diagnosis and the changes they experience. It offers participants an opportunity to share and connect with others. Topics covered include:

• Symptoms of dementia
• Adapting to changes
• Assessing & managing risk
• Planning for the future & circle of support

Next Steps

This is a 3-week series for care partners to help them understand the person living with dementia's diagnosis and the changes they may experience throughout this journey. Topics covered include:

• Symptoms of dementia
• Adapting to changes
• Assessing & managing risk
• Planning for the future & circle of support

Taking Control of Our Lives

This 8-week series helps people newly diagnosed with dementia and their care partners understand their diagnosis and the changes they experience. Topics covered include:

• Adapting to Changes
• Finding Meaning & Purpose
• Communication
• Safety, Independence, & Decision-Making
• Emotional Wellness
• Building & Keeping Connections

Care Essentials

This 3-week series is for care partners supporting a person living with dementia in the mid to late stages of their dementia journey. Topics covered include:

• Communication changes and strategies
• Understanding responsive behaviour
• Supporting daily activities

Care Essentials On-Demand

Care Essentials On-Demand is offered as a series of four videos which care partners can watch at their own pace and in their own time. The focus is on communication changes and strategies, understanding responsive behaviour and supporting daily activities. The zoom meetings are an opportunity to discuss the content from the videos, ask questions and connect with other care partners.

Options for Care

Options for Care consists of three stand-alone courses. They are:

1. Help in the home: Creating a plan for support
2. Considering residential care options: Retirement and long-term care homes
3. Moving to long-term care: Before, during and after

Care in the Later Stages

This 3-week series helps care partners provide quality care for those living with dementia in the late stages of their journey. Topics covered include:

• Preparing for the Later State
• Care Strategies—Enhancing Quality of Life
• Taking Care of You

Ambiguous Loss and Grief

The issue of loss and grief is one of the most significant underlying issues that care partners experience when supporting people living with dementia. This workshop is designed to help care partners identify and work through the losses and grieving that occurs in different ways at all stages in the dementia caregiving journey.

This education is for Care Partners ONLY (family/friends supporting a person living with dementia)

8As of Dementia

This 4-week series discusses common symptoms that those living with dementia may experience throughout their journey. Each week will cover two of the 8A's of dementia.

• Amnesia & Agnosia
• Anosognosia & Apraxia
• Altered Perception & Attention Deficit
• Aphasia & Apathy

3D's - Delirium, Depression, Dementia

Learn about the 3 D's - Delirium, Depression and Dementia and how you can support the person you are caring for when they are experiencing any of these conditions. 

U-First for Care Partners

This 3-week series helps care partners to build confidence and skills related to:

• Enhancing their well-being and the wellbeing of the person they are supporting 
• Reducing responsive behaviours by using the U-First! framework
• Improving collaboration among all team members through a common knowledge, language, and approach to care

This education is for Care Partners ONLY (family/friends supporting a person living with dementia).

Join Us

Please view our Events Calendar or contact one of our Education Coordinators for information on upcoming sessions.