Non-drug treatment programs in Calgary
Non-drug treatments are health-promoting programs that can maintain or improve cognitive abilities, enhance emotional well-being, reduce behavioural symptoms, and promote everyday functioning.
In-Person Resources
Conversation cafe
https://dementianetworkcalgary.ca/events/month/
Conversation Cafes are for both people living with dementia and their care partners, regardless of where they are in their dementia journey. There are 14 cafes run in Calgary and the surrounding area. It is free and volunteer-driven. The purpose of the conversation cafe is to bring people together for conversation and support. The cafes are part of Dementia Network Calgary. All conversation cafes have a host and a co-host to facilitate conversation. It offers a safe place for talk, listen, laughs, and friendship. Confidentiality and respect are foundational values.
Read a recent article about Conversation Cafes written by Sylvia Cole (May 6, 2023): https://www.mountainviewtoday.ca/beyond-local/conversation-cafe-a-place-to-find-support-6942343
Club 36
https://www.alzheimercalgary.ca/find-support/adult-day-program/about-club-36
Club 36 is an Adult Day Program (ADP) for people living with dementia. It is operated by the Alzheimer Society of Calgary in partnership with Alberta Health Services. This program provides meaningful activities including music, art, physical activities, baking, gardening, and individual hobbies such as woodworking. Club 36 maximizes the individual’s independence and abilities in a caring and supportive environment. It also provides care partners with an opportunity for respite. All Club 36 staff members are educated in the Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer’s Care, which emphasizes empathy, friendship, and person-centred care.
Read about the Best Friends Approach: https://bestfriendsapproach.com/about/about-the-best-friends-approach/
Locations (South and North Calgary)
Club 36 at AgeCare Seton, 4963 Front St SE, Calgary AB T3M 2M3
Club 36 at Bethany Harvest Hills, 19 Harvest Gold Manor NE, Calgary AB T3K 4Y1
Opening minds through art (OMA)
https://www.alzheimercalgary.ca/find-support/adult-day-program/opening-minds-though-art
Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an intergenerational art therapy program for people living with dementia. The OMA promotes social engagement, autonomy, and dignity of people with dementia through creative self-expression opportunities. It aims to bridge the gap between people with dementia and younger generations through making art. Grounded in person-centred philosophies and strengths-based approaches, OMA focuses on the skills and abilities that people with dementia possess. Participating students/volunteers are trained in OMA principles, communication skills, and strategies to promote social engagement, autonomy, and dignity towards persons with dementia. At the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, volunteers are also trained in the Best Friends approach that is grounded in the belief that relationships are supremely important in dementia care.
Read more about OMA by Alberta Health Services: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/about/scn/ahs-scn-srs-oma-mid-project-report.pdf
Learn more about OMA: https://scrippsoma.org/
Music & Memory Program
https://www.alzheimercalgary.ca/find-support/adult-day-program/music-at-club-36
The Alzheimer Society of Calgary features music at the Club 36 Adult Day Program. Music & Memory is a non-profit organization that helps individuals with a wide range of cognitive and physical conditions to engage with the world, ease pain, and reclaim their humanity through the use of personalized music.
The Alzheimer Society of Calgary team has completed training from Music & Memory and adapted the program to meet the needs of Calgarians living with dementia.
Read more about Music & Memory®: https://musicandmemory.org/
Vecova’s (Dementia) Wellness Program
In partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Vecova hosts a tailored physical and cognitive exercise program for older adults with dementia and memory problems in general. Participants in the program meet bi-weekly to connect with each other and try new exercises and activities designed to stimulate their brains. According to their participants, the program offers more than just activities (exercise, games, music, discussions, storytelling). It creates a supportive community for both older adults and their care partners. While older adult participants are in the program, care partners can take part in activities such as visual arts, connect with and support each other in their caregiving journey.
Click for 2023 Summer Schedule: https://vecova.ca/summer-2023-program-guide-2/summer-2023-social-and-community-programs-2/
Memory P.L.U.S. (Practice, laughter, useful strategies) Currently Unavailable
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/news/releases/2011/Page4166.aspx
Memory P.L.U.S is a community-based program that supports people with mild dementia and their care partners. The program bridges the gap for many families who are often not ready for home care services, but who still require support to prevent hastened progression of the illness and caregiver fatigue. The 12-week program offer education about coping with the changes associated with dementia, but the information is delivered in a friendly, informal atmosphere through social activities, music, memory games, and exercises. Each couple also makes a memory book – having the person with dementia and the care partner attend the sessions together is a vital part of the program. Caregivers participate in the larger group sessions. It also offers three separate sessions specifically for care partners.
To be eligible, participants must have been diagnosed by a physician as having mild or early dementia. Caregivers must attend too (dyad). It is organized by Family Caregiver Centre, facilitated by a recreation therapist, and supported by volunteers. For Family Caregiver Centre, click: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/Service.aspx?id=1604&serviceAtFacilityID=1075876#contentStart
Lutheran church hosts Memory P.L.U.S. – Alzheimer Support Group after the couple completes the 12-week program. For more information, click: http://www.oursaviourchurch.ca/groups-we-support/local/pages/memory-plus-alzheimer-support-group–50
Living with dementia Currently Unavailable
https://carewest.ca/dir/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Living-witih-Dementia-brochure-Feb.-2016.pdf
Carewest Glenmore Park provides Living with Dementia, a 12-week dyad program for both people living with dementia and their family care partners. Both the person with dementia and their care partner attend the program every Wednesday. The program assesses physical, mental, and social needs of the person with dementia, provide education and support for care partners, offer meaningful physical and social activities (e.g. exercises, crafts, games, educational sessions, discussion), provides information and referral support to other community programs and respite services. The care team consists of geriatric psychiatrist, nurse, recreational therapist, social worker, and therapy assistants. The team also provides information to family physicians about treatment and progress in the program.
Cognitive rehabilitative Therapies – AHS Continuing Care
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/cc/Page15492.aspx
Alberta Health Services (AHS) provides rehabilitative care by occupational therapists, dietitians, physical therapists, recreational therapists, social workers, registered nurses, and speech-language pathologists. AHS offers these services through continuing care – the dementia care team. Clients must be enrolled in continuing care to access the services. Professional referral by a doctor is required. Need help? Dial Alberta Health Link at 811. Health professionals can help you set up an assessment to see what kind of continuing care services would meet your or your loved one’s needs or direct you to other community resources or supports. Anyone can call to arrange an assessment. You may also speak to your doctor.
Read more about AHS Continuing Care: https://www.alberta.ca/how-to-access-continuing-care.aspx
Adult Day Programs – AHS
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/cc/Page15492.aspx
AHS Adult Day Program (ADP), dementia program, provides socialization, recreation activities and exercise programs for people living with dementia and provides respite to family care partners. Other services include health monitoring such as blood pressure and weight, assistance with medications, basic personal care, meals and snacks. Dementia specific programs run at Carewest Signal Pointe, AgeCare Glenmore, and AgeCare Midnapore. Call Alberta Health Link at 811.
Costs: $10 per day (includes lunch and cost of some program supplies). This amount may be reduced or waived for certain clients who are eligible for AHS subsidies.
Learn more about ADP: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/seniors/if-sen-adult-day-programs-brochure.pdf
Visit Carewest Signal Pointe webpage: https://carewest.ca/carewest-signal-pointe-adult-day-program-tour/
Visit AgeCare Glenmore webpage: https://www.agecare.ca/community/agecare-glenmore/care/adult-day-program/
Visit AgeCare Midnapore webpage: https://www.agecare.ca/community/agecare-midnapore/care/adult-day-program/
Visit Brenda Strafford Foundation’s Bow View Manor: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/Service.aspx?id=1026103&serviceAtFacilityID=1056903
Visit Brenda Strafford Foundation’s Wentworth Manor: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/Service.aspx?id=1026103&serviceAtFacilityID=1115926
Visit Brenda Strafford Foundation’s Clifton House: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/Service.aspx?id=1026103&serviceAtFacilityID=1132480
Jewish Family Service Calgary
https://www.jfsc.org/programs–services/memory-care.html
JFSC provides a program for people living with dementia. Volunteers engages with the client to deliver brain boosting activities that support them with their diagnosis, while also providing respite for the caregiver. In partnership with Alzheimer Society of Calgary, JFSC ensures that Memory Care staff are equipped with dementia-specific training and tools to deliver high quality, person-centred care to clients in their homes.
Contact JFSC at (403) 287-3510 or info@jfsc.org
The Calgary Chinese elderly citizen’s association dementia day program (Chinese)
https://www.cceca.ca/adult-day-program
The Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens’ Association hosts an adult day program for Chinese-speaking older adults with disabilities, special needs, mild dementia or memory concerns. The program provides culturally-appropriate physical, social, and recreational activities to meet the needs and abilities of Chinese older adults. Other services offered include nutritional hot meals, health monitoring and education, festive and birthday celebrations, outings (for additional charges), referrals to other support services, and family caregiver support group.
Costs: $10 per day (includes lunch and cost of some program supplies)
While the program runs daily, the dementia-specific day program runs every Wednesday, between 9:15 am and 3:15 pm.
Wing Kei care centre dementia day program (Chinese)
https://www.wingkeicarecentre.org/facilities-services/wing-kei-care-centre/adult-day-program
Wing Kei Care Centre offers another culturally-sensitive adult day program option for Chinese-speaking older adults with dementia. The program is geared towards creating opportunities for socialization, recreational activities and health monitoring for older adults who live at home. Each client has an individualized care plan which is co-developed with the client, family, and Wing Kei care team. The program offers various stimulating activities such as sit and stretch exercise, crafts, Chinese calligraphy, painting, knitting, interactive games, board games, singing, performances viewing, and seasonal celebrations.
The dementia program runs Wednesday and Friday (9:00 am – 3:00 pm). The program focuses on clients with various degress of dementia. It provides clients with familiar activities that stimulate cognition and improve memory.
online Resources
Rec@Home
Rec@Home a virtual program (over Zoom) that offers daily seated and range of motion exercises, weekly live virtual therapeutic music sessions, various cognitive games, social groups, coffee chats and more. Although geared towards seniors 55+, all ages are welcome to attend. No referral is required. The cost is $25.00 per month per household, or $10.00 for a 10-class pass. Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to attend. Low income subsidy rate program is available.
For more information, follow the link above.
Asant cafe
Asant Cafe is an online gathering place for Albertans with dementia and their care partners. The online cafe provides a virtual forum for discussions, educational programs for learning about dementia, Q&As surrounding dementia, live meetings for connecting with diverse professionals and community members.
Minds in motion – Virtual Program
https://alzheimer.ca/ab/en/help-support/programs-services/minds-motion
Minds in Motion is a program designed for people with early to middle stage dementia to enjoy with a friend, family member or care partner. The program combines physical activity and mental stimulation in a virtual social environment. Being virtual, the person living with dementia and care partner need to be in a dyad and able to participate in the same room together during the program sessions to support one another.
The 2-hour program is divided into two components: fitness instructor led low-impact fitness class & facilitator-led social and cognitive activities. This program is hosted by Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories and supported by Alberta Blue Cross.
What you need to participate virtually:
- * Laptop/tablet with a microphone and video camera
- * Stable internet connection
- * Safe, open space and two hard-backed chairs to exercise
Read more about Minds in Motion®: https://www.cabhi.com/completed-project-summaries/minds-in-motion-a-fitness-and-social-activity/
one-on-one Resources
Client-directed Home Care Invoicing
https://www.ab.bluecross.ca/resources/government-programs/client-directed-home-care.php
Client Directed Home Care supports people of all ages with their personal and home care needs. If you prefer one-on-one interactions over group interactions, this program maybe an option for you.
To be eligible:
- * You must be an Alberta resident with a valid health care card
- * Your needs can be safely met in your home
- * You meet the requirements determined by an Alberta Health Services case manager.
To request an assessment, call 811.
Read more about Client Directed Home Care Invoicing: https://www.ab.bluecross.ca/pdfs/the-client-directed-home-care-invoicing-program.pdf