Our Resources
A summary of resources available to you and your family from the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan
We can help
Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan programs and services help people with dementia, their care partners, families, and friends by providing information, support, education and referral to other community services. Learn more about our programs and services here.
The following is a list of some of our local resources.
First Link Referrals
First Link® is a program of the Alzheimer Society that connects people with dementia and their families to information, support services and education as early as possible and throughout the progression of the disease.
How do I make a referral?
- People with dementia and/or their caregivers, family members or support persons can call us at 1-800-263-3367 to be referred to the First Link® program.
- Physicians, other health professionals and community organizations can refer individuals and families affected by dementia by completing a First Link® Direct Referral Form.
Download a copy of our Getting a Diagnosis Toolkit here.
To learn more about the First Link® program and referral process, click here.
Guide to Choosing Private Home Care
The Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan prepared this guide to help families choose a private homecare agency that will best meet their needs when looking for an alternative to Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) care or if needing to supplement SHA services.
There are many private homecare agencies in Saskatchewan to choose from. It is important to know that private homecare is not regulated in Saskatchewan.
When looking for a private homecare agency, we suggest that you ask questions and compare the answers with what is most important to your family.
When you have Care Issues and Concerns –
Who to talk to? What to do?
There may be times in care situations where an issue or concern arises. If you are not sure what to do or who to talk to, click here for our Care Issues and Concerns Guide to find some suggestions and organizations that can support you.
Legal and Financial Issues
Legal and Financial Issues – Booklet
Disclaimer: This booklet is for information only and should not be taken in place of professional legal, financial, or accounting advice.
It is strongly recommended that families discuss legal and financial concerns as early as possible after dementia diagnosis, and that the person with dementia and family members be involved as much as possible with such decision-making. Community professionals, such as lawyers, financial planners or accountants, can assist to make difficult decisions in the best interest of all concerned. This document provides information on legal and financial issues, government benefits and private benefits.
Related Resources: Alzheimer Society of Canada's Planning for your future
Meaningful Activity
It is important to understand individual needs and preferences when planning activities so that they are meaningful to the person with dementia. This booklet provides tips for organizing and implementing meaningful activities, arranging the space and environment for safety and success and providing ideas for activities that best suit the person’s interests and abilities. As the disease progresses, keep activities flexible and prepare to make adjustments.
For more information, view the webinar: Meaningful Activities
The webinar shares tips on how to plan, approach and engage a person with dementia in meaningful activities.
Activities for People Living with Dementia
Everyone has a need to engage in activities that give us purpose, fuel our spirit, and meet our basic daily needs. As dementia progresses, a person’s ability to participate in certain activities will change. Adapting activities to their changing abilities and remaining flexible are key to helping a person living with dementia remain engaged in a variety of activities that are meaningful to them. Activities are not just about leisure — they also include the tasks we need to do daily, such as self-care and household chores. Involving the person living with dementia in these activities offers opportunities to feel productive and useful. This document suggests activities for all stages of dementia.
Related Resources:
Alzheimer Society of Canada's Finding suitable activities
National Resource Library
Programs and Services
A Community of Support Changes Everything. A diagnosis of dementia brings with it many new challenges. Our services connect you to a community of support to help you better understand and respond to each phase of the disease with practical strategies, information and resources.
Learn more about the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan’s Programs and Services here.
Reduce Risk of Wandering: Multi-step Safety Plan Checklist and Guides
Multiple strategies are encouraged to reduce the risk of wandering, because no one strategy will meet every individual need. The Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan has created three resources to help people with dementia and care partners understand the importance of preparing a multi-step safety plan to help the person with dementia live in the community safely. Download our resources here:
1. Multi-step safety plan Checklist to reduce risk of wandering
2. Multi-step safety plan to reduce risk of wandering: A guide for caregivers
3. Multi-Step Safety Plan for Reducing Risk of Getting Lost A Guide for People with Dementia
For more information, view the webinar: Safely Home: Reducing the Risk of Wandering. Through presentations and stories of lived experience, learn about the risk levels and strategies to reduce the risks of getting lost, behaviours involved in wandering, how wandering can lead to getting lost and how to prepare a multi-step safety plan.
Presented by Noelannah Neubauer, PhD, Postdoctoral fellow, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo; special guest Susan (person with lived experience); and, Heather Van Starkenburg MSW, RSW, First Link Care Navigator, Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.
For people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, wandering is a common behaviour. As a result, people living with dementia may not be able to find their way back home and become lost.