Courses for the General Public

Youth in Action: A Toolkit for Young Dementia Supporters

This enlightening webinar hosted by youth, people living with dementia, family care partners, and people who work with youth share their experience in developing a Young Dementia Supporters Toolkit. This Toolkit is designed to help youth understand dementia and learn strategies to support people living with dementia in their family and community.

Courses for the General Public

Your Experience with dementia as a Tool for Change

This eLearning course will help to understand how advocacy through sharing personal experiences with dementia can be a powerful tool for making change. We will explore how sharing personal stories, participating in campaigns, and leveraging resources like the Advocacy College course can help to advocate. In this course you will learn about:

✔️The current dementia agenda in Ontario

✔️Why advocacy is important

✔️Ways to get involved in making change for people living with dementia

✔️Practical tools to advocate for yourself and others.

Presenters:

Adam Morrison, MSC, CHE, Sr Director Public Policy & Partnerships, ASO

Mona Lancaster, Care Partner with lived experience

Jessica Hogle, Public Policy Coordinator, ASO

Moderator:
Karen Robins, Coordinator, Education & Knowledge Translation, ASO

Intended Audience: Everyone

Language: English

Courses for the General Public

Overview of Dementia

This self-paced course will cover:

✔️ How the brain works
✔️ Cognitive changes that are normal with aging
✔️ Warning signs for dementia
✔️ Common types of dementia
✔️ Risk factors for dementia
✔️ Myths about dementia

Intended Audience: Anyone interested in learning about dementia

Language: English

Courses for the General Public

Decision-making Capacity: A Primer: Nov 2024

Welcome to the Decision-Making Capacity course. This Speaker series session is designed to deepen your understanding of decision-making capacity, a crucial concept in providing effective support for older adults. You’ll learn what decision-making capacity entails, recognize when it may be questioned, and gain insights into the legal frameworks surrounding consent and capacity in Ontario. By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped with knowledge and resources to understand decision-making capacity, address concerns, and ensure a supportive environment that respects autonomy and safeguards well-being. Let’s get started on this important journey to enhance your skills and knowledge in supporting informed, respectful decision-making.

Presenter:
Dr. Carole Cohen MD

Moderators:
Karen Robins, Coordinator, Education & Knowledge Translation, ASO
Colleen Bradley, Chief Development Officer, Planned Giving, ASO

Intended Audience: Everyone

Language: English

Facilitator: Kyle FitzgeraldFacilitator: Jessica HogleFacilitator: Adam Morrison

Advocacy College

In this self-paced eLearning course, participants will learn:

✔️The basics of advocacy
✔️How government works
✔️How to communicate effectively with elected officials

This course is designed to help turn concerned staff, clients, and members of the public into effective, resilient advocates for a more dementia-friendly Ontario.

While this course focuses on advocacy work in Ontario, the course content can be easily applied to other provinces.

There is an interactive Zoom webinar in this course, offered on a regular basis.  New advocates, or returning advocates, are welcome to participate.

Intended Audience: Everyone

Language: English

Courses for the General Public

Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: What to Do?

This on-demand learning module covers:

Presenter:
Dr. Andrew Frank, Cognitive and Behavioural Neurologist
Bruyère Memory Program

Intended Audience: Everyone

*This on-demand learning module was created from an Alzheimer Society of Ontario Speaker Series presentation given to the public on December 13, 2023.

Courses for the General Public

Building Dementia-Friendly Communities

Intended audience: Employees of organizations in the retail (stores and restaurants), library and recreation, and public transit sectors of the community.
Language: English
Estimated time: 75 minutes (4 modules)

Learn about how organizations and their employees can help to build dementia-friendly communities where people living with dementia and their care partners feel welcomed, included and supported.

Courses for the General Public

Estate Planning 101

At the Alzheimer Society, we believe that doing your estate planning makes you a Super Hero!

Planning your estate gives you, your family, and friends peace of mind that your wishes are respected while you are alive, and after you die. 

This on-demand learning module covers the basics of estate planning, including the importance of establishing, and reviewing, Wills and Powers of Attorney.  Colleen provides valuable information on:

- Wills and Will planning action steps.
- Taxes, probate fees and ways to reduce them.
- Powers of Attorney and the importance of taking action!

Presenter: Colleen Bradley, Chief Development Officer, Planned Giving & Bequest Administration
Alzheimer Society of Ontario

Courses for the General Public

Experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ People Living with Dementia and their Care Partners

This on-demand learning module is the third in a series based on the Landmark Study report titled The Many Faces of Dementia which was released in January 2024. The report focuses on people living with dementia and care partners who are part of underrepresented and underserved populations.

This module provides an overview of the experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ people living with dementia and their care partners, with a focus on inclusion and the diverse needs of this community.

Presenters:

Dr. Celeste Pang, Mount Royal University

Ngozi Iroanyah, Director of Health Equity and Access, Alzheimer Society of Ontario

Intended Audience: Everyone

This on-demand learning module was created from an Alzheimer Society of Ontario Speaker Series presentation given to the public on June 4, 2024.

Courses for the General Public

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 
Language: English
Estimated time: 60 minutes

Courses for the General Public

Landmark Study: The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada

This on-demand learning module focuses on the second Landmark Study report which was released on January 22, 2024. Titled The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada, the report focuses on people living with dementia and care partners who are part of underrepresented and underserved populations.

Presenters:

Dr. Joshua Armstrong
Research Scientist, Alzheimer Society of Canada

Ngozi Iroanyah
Director of Health Equity and Access, Alzheimer Society of Ontario

Intended Audience: Everyone

This on-demand learning module was created from an Alzheimer Society of Ontario Speaker Series presentation given to the public on February 22, 2024

Courses for the General Public

Maximizing Your Brain Health: Tips from a Behavioural Neurologist

Research is showing us that we do have control over some of the risk factors for developing dementia. We know that maintaining our cardiovascular health as we age is important, and just as important is how we keep our brains healthy. This on-demand learning module will review concepts of brain health, normal aging, and what we can do to maximize brain health as we age, including the importance of keeping socially connected.

Presenter: Dr. Alex Henri-Bhargava

Courses for the General Public

Medication Overuse in Older Adults and its Link to Dementia

This on-demand learning module will provide:

• An overview of the Alzheimer Society and The Health Depot Pharmacy partnership.

• An understanding of medications and associated risks for developing dementia or increasing dementia symptoms.

Presenter: Andy Donald, President of The Health Depot and Certified Geriatric Pharmacist

Intended Audience: Everyone

Courses for the General Public

Research that Moves Us Forward

The Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) is one of Canada’s most innovative hubs for dementia research, helping the best and brightest minds in the field spark their work from ideas to impact.

Hear from three 2023 ASRP award recipients from Ontario as they share information about their innovative research projects and how they will add to our understanding of personalized dementia risk reduction, the impact of cardiovascular health and menopause on brain health for women and potential new drugs to treat dementia by reducing brain inflammation.

Presenters: Dr. Danielle D'Amico, Dr. Donald Weaver and Madeline Wood Alexander

Courses for the General Public

Sex and Gender Differences in Dementia

This on-demand learning module is the second in a series based on the Landmark Study report titled The Many Faces of Dementia which was released in January 2024. The report focuses on people living with dementia and care partners who are part of underrepresented and underserved populations.

This module focuses on Chapter 4: Sex and Gender Differences in Dementia and will cover:

Presenters:

Dr. M Natasha Rajah, Toronto Metropolitan University

Dr. Gillian Einstein, University of Toronto

Ngozi Iroanyah, Director of Health Equity and Access, Alzheimer Society of Ontario

Intended Audience: Everyone

This on-demand learning module was created from an Alzheimer Society of Ontario Speaker Series presentation given to the public on May 7, 2024

Courses for the General Public

Supporting Communication

This self-paced course will cover:

Intended Audience: Anyone who is supporting a person living with dementia

Language: English

Courses for the General Public

The Power of Physical Activity and Social Connection

This on-demand learning module focuses on The Power of Physical Activity and Social Connection: A Panel Discussion. It was created from an Alzheimer Society of Ontario Speaker Series presentation given on September 20, 2024.

In this on-demand learning module. Our panel of experts provide insights on: 

✔️Recognize how physical activity enhances cognitive function and mental health in individuals living with dementia.
✔️Explain how social engagement through group activities improves confidence and quality of life for those with dementia.
✔️Identify how physical activity can benefit care partners by improving the well-being of persons living with dementia.
✔️Identify how to access community-based social programs that provide physical and mental stimulation for people with early to mid-stage Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia and their care partners.

Guest Moderator: Vanessa Barnes
Panelists:
Eleanor Probizanski, Chris Morasse, Laura Middleton, Brent and Diana Anderson
Intended Audience: Everyone

Courses for the General Public

Understanding Young Onset Dementia-A Panel Discussion

The Landmark Study, Volume 2 was released January 22, 2024, and is titled The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada. This report focuses on people living with dementia and care partners who are part of underrepresented and underserved populations.

In this on-demand learning module. Our panel of experts provide insights on: 

✔️Explain young onset dementia, including its diagnostic criteria (under age 65), and distinguish it from dementia in older individuals by its unique challenges and symptoms.

✔️Examine the personal experiences and societal perceptions associated with young onset dementia.  
✔️Analyze the current gaps in healthcare and social support systems for young onset dementia.
✔️Investigate the experiences of young caregivers supporting individuals with young onset dementia.

Panelists:
Sian Lockwood, Alzheimer Society of Canada
Dr. Mary Pat Sullivan, Nipissing University
Camryn Berry, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
Debbie Keay, Hamilton Council on Aging & Community Member

Moderator:
Ngozi Iroanyah, Director of Health Equity and Access, Alzheimer Society of Ontario

Intended Audience: Everyone

This on-demand learning module focuses on Chapter 5 of the Landmark Study: Understanding Young Onset Dementia. It was created from an Alzheimer Society of Ontario Speaker Series presentation given on August 6, 2024.