by Brooklyn Cribdon –
Dementia and Alzheimer’s impacts entire communities, but isn’t something that is often talked about. Well, we are here to talk about it today. In an interview with the Alzheimer’s Society of BC, new CEO Jen Lyle discussed openly and honestly the impacts that the COVID 19 pandemic has had on people living with Dementia, and why the Society’s annual Breakfast to Remember event is so important.
Living with Dementia can be quite an isolating experience, including for families and loved ones. Sadly, COVID-19 and the current Omicron variant has only compounded that isolation. With the onset of the pandemic, the Society has had to scale back services and programs. Without services such as adult day programs, in-home and respite care, those living with Dementia are suffering from a lack of human connection, which is vital to their well-being. The silver lining, however, is that the Alzheimer’s Society has been able to offer some support groups and educational workshops digitally. This virtual format has allowed wider accessibility, as well as a level of anonymity for participants. Lyle says she hopes that in the near future, the Society will be able to offer both in-person and virtual programming as a way to serve people living with Dementia as well as their families, loved ones and caregivers.
The Breakfast to Remember is a key fundraising and awareness event that brings B.C. business and community leaders together to discuss how we can make communities more inclusive, accessible, and supportive for those living with Dementia. Similar to improving physical public spaces to serve those with mobility limitations, Jen Lyle hopes that communities can adapt to also serve those living with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Something not many people are aware of is that approximately two thirds of those with Dementia live in the community – not in long-term care homes. Moreover, those who do live in long-term care have suffered from COVID-19 related policies that affect visitation, especially since family members are key players in providing person-centred care. Although the Resident Bill of Rights articulates the right to receive people in your home, social visitation in long-term care is seen as non-essential from a policy standpoint. Evidence suggests the opposite, however. For instance, Lyle mentioned the increased use of antipsychotic medications, which coincides with compounded isolation and lack of social programming.
While the percentage of seniors experiencing dementia hasn’t necessarily changed that much, the population that makes up the senior demographic is growing, leading to an increase of folks who are on the journey with dementia. This means that our communities need to be better prepared to help serve them. This is where the Breakfast to Remember comes in to raise awareness with business and community leaders. Past chair of the event, Stasia Hartley (from Bayshore Home Health), says that “for those who attend, the Breakfast to Remember compels people to think and act differently when they realize how present this disease is among us.”
2022 marks nine years since the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s Breakfast to Remember was launched in Victoria (11 since its start in Vancouver). Bayshore Home Health has been a valued sponsor over the years, including during the move to a virtual setting in 2021 due to the pandemic. This trend continues this year, with a virtual event happening on Thursday, March 3 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Following up from last year’s keynote (astronaut Chris Hadfield), this year brings Neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Lisa Genova, writer of Still Alice.
The Breakfast to Remember is vital because it not only raises awareness, but it generates critical funds for the Society, which is largely public and donor-funded. For more information about the event, keynote speaker, research, and tickets, visit
www.breakfasttoremember.ca.
