INNISFAIL – Innisfail is taking an important step in establishing itself as a dementia-friendly community.
The Wolf Creek Primary Care Network, located at the Innisfail Medical Clinic, prepared a proposal several months ago and submitted it last fall to receive funding for a project that would help create a dementia-friendly community with resources and supports here in Innisfail.
Funding for the project is being administered through the Spark Program with The Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, in Toronto.
In late November, CABHI, a non-profit organization, announced it was investing $3 million to support projects aimed at improving the quality of life for seniors, citizens living with dementia and their caregivers.
Innisfail’s proposal, entitled Community Partners in Action, was one of several projects chosen from across Canada. The funding amount for the Innisfail project is $50,000, a combination of private and public funds administered through the Spark Program.
“We put a proposal together on how we would do this (create a dementia-friendly community),” said Wendy Evans, geriatric assessment nurse with the Wolf Creek network. “We recognize the importance of supporting individuals living with dementia, to age in place with choice, dignity and opportunities, so that it’s inclusive.”
Community Partners in Action will involve working alongside several local organizations and groups, noted Evans.
“That’s why it’s important to have a strong partnership with the town, with FCSS, with Alberta Health Services and the Primary Care Network,” said Evans. “Here we can support people at the beginning of the disease so that they really feel empowered to live well, and that they have choices and opportunities to live well and to be healthy in the community with support.”
The Alzheimer Society of Canada states the definition of a dementia-friendly community as, “a place where people living with dementia are understood, respected and supported. An environment where people living with dementia will be confident that they can contribute to community life.”
Evans said that Innisfail has a higher than average percentage of seniors, with 24 per cent. In 2014, the percentage of Canada's population aged 65 and over was 15.6 per cent. According to provincial statistics, by the year 2042 ab out one in five Albertans are expected to be living with dementia.
Jennifer Wood was hired last fall by the Wolf Creek network, and is the new dementia-friendly community coordinator.
In her new role, she will help promote dementia awareness to the community, local businesses, care partners and people living with dementia.
Wood will be making a presentation to town council about the dementia-friendly community initiative and the work she will be doing in Innisfail over the next several months.
“One thing we hope with our project, with the increase in awareness about what dementia is, with our education sessions, is that people can received timely recognition and timely diagnosis of the disease so that appropriate supports can be put into place, so that they can continue to live well in their own homes,” said Wood.
Karen Bradbury, social development coordinator with the Town of Innisfail, said the town has been looking at an age-friendly community initiative for more than a year and having the dementia-friendly community designation would be beneficial for many.
"More and more individuals in our community are being diagnosed with dementia or are at some stage, so having services that are specific to individuals with dementia and their care partners is a great resource," said Bradbury.
“Age friendly kind of captures whole populations, whereas dementia-friendly is a specific group that are dealing with a different set of challenges," she added. "It's important for our residents, even those living with early stage dementia, to still have the best quality of life and to be connected well in their community."
An official launch of the dementia-friendly community initiative is expected to be held later this spring in March.
