Dementia Education in Muskoka

The First Link^® Learning Series

The First Link® Learning Series is made up of five distinct courses that are progressive in nature. Each course builds upon the other to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of dementia, coping strategies, resources and support systems. These courses are facilitated by staff of the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka.

The five courses that make up the learning series are:

1. First Steps for persons with dementia and their family
   The First Steps Workshop Series helps people newly diagnosed with dementia and their care partners understand their diagnosis and the changes they are experiencing. It offers participants an opportunity to share and connect with others. Topics covered during this course include:
   • What is dementia?
   • Memory loss and changes to the brain
   • Coping strategies
   • Drugs and treatment
   • Future planning
   • Community resources
2. Next Steps for families and friends: This series will offer family members and friends caring for persons with dementia an overview of dementia. Topics covered in this course include:
   • What is dementia?
   • Memory loss and changes to the brain,
   • Coping strategies,
   • Drugs and treatments,
   • Future planning and
   • Community resources.
3. Care Essentials: This series will offer family members and friends caring for persons with dementia problem solving strategies, approaches for communications and available avenues for support, all of which can strengthen their ability to provide care. Topics covered in this course include:
   • Progression of dementia,
   • Understanding behaviour,
   • Day-to-day care and
   • Community resources.
4. Options for Care: This series is to help family members and friends caring for people with dementia evaluate their current care giving needs and explore other possible care options available, including long-term care. Topics covered in this course include:
   • Where to turn when care needs are increasing,
   • Long-Term Care – how the system works and
   • Coping with change – how to make the transition.
5. Care in the Later Stages: This series is to help family members and friends of persons with dementia understand what to expect in the later stages of the disease. The series will explore how participants can provide comfort to the person as well as review the experiences of grief and loss. Topics covered in this course include:
   • Natural course of the later stages,
   • How to recognize pain and distress and
   • How to provide care that promotes dignity, comfort and quality of life.

For more information about the First Link® Learning Series or to register for an upcoming workshop, please contact our office at 705-645-5621.

More useful resources:

• First Steps for People Recently Diagnosed with Dementia
• First Steps for Families

Online Learning

Through the Alzheimer Society of Toronto and AlzEducate, you can learn online via webinars, self-guided courses, and professional certificate programs.

Webinars

Learn more and enroll in live presentations for people with dementia, family carers, and/or health-care professionals.

Online Courses

Discover interactive, self-paced learning with AlzEducate

• Dementia 101: Basics
  Learn about the difference between normal aging and dementia, the importance of a diagnosis, different types of dementia, the impact of changes to the brain, the progression of Alzheimer's disease, person-centred care and how the Alzheimer Society of Toronto can help.
  • Intended audience: Family Caregivers
  • Estimated Time: 60 minutes
     
• Dementia 102: Communication
  
  Improve communication with the person with dementia by learning about our desire to connect, our need for communication, how dementia changes communication and some creative communication strategies.
  • Intended audience: Family Caregivers
  • Estimated time: 60 minutes
  • Recommended prerequisite: Dementia 101: Basics
     
• Dementia 103: Behaviour
  
  Improve your interactions with the person with dementia by learning to understand possible causes of behaviours and strategies to respond to behaviours.
  • Intended audience: Family Caregivers
  • Estimated time: 60 minutes
  • Recommended prerequisites: Dementia 101: Basics, Dementia 102: Communication
     
• Finding Your Way - Living Safely in the Community
  
  Learn how you can help people with dementia live safely within the community and how to interact with someone who might be lost.
  • Intended audience: Retirement home, supportive housing and paramedic staff
  • Estimated time: 60 minutes