Foundation staff had the opportunity to sit in on a group session facilitated by an occupational therapist and attended by people experiencing mild to moderate cognitive decline. What we learned about the participants, and one couple’s story in particular, helped us understand the many emotions that surround dementia.

Three older adults sat around a small table, they were smiling and relaxed. A facilitator was presenting a small crossword puzzle to the group and encouraging responses. There was laughter among the group, a light-hearted, appreciative feeling in the room, and mutual respect between the facilitator and the participants. We learned about their full lives: one of the seniors had a long career in forest management, another had been a busy real estate agent, and the other was a retired teacher. They spoke of their families, travel, mountaineering, gardening, and their pets.

These members of our community are living their lives as fully as possible, but there is a common thread that brought them together: they are all navigating life in the early stages of dementia. They may be experiencing loss, frustration, anxiety, loneliness, confusion, embarrassment, discomfort, or even isolation.

This local program’s emphasis is on learning to improve focus, language, and communication skills, and ultimately to delay cognitive decline. The facilitators, Island Health occupational therapists, aim to create an optimal learning environment with the understanding that persons living with dementia greatly benefit from structure, routine, and familiarity. This local program is called Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST). We had the opportunity to hear from one of the participants and spoke with her husband.

“The anxiety in my life has diminished since attending the program. Just being there boosts my mood.”

“(She) comes out walking on clouds, I can see that she has benefited immensely from the program. In her day-to-day life, she often feels criticized for her condition and occasionally looked down upon. She says that the stigma of her dementia has been removed in the group and the attendees meet simply as people rather than as something less. She has always returned home from this group in a lasting, positive mood.

(My wife) has been, and continues to be, the heart of our small family and we are all affected by her condition. Any experience that benefits her is reflected back on our whole family in a positive way.”

While it is their diagnosis and a hope for tools to assist with daily activities that initially brings the group together, it is support, camaraderie, and the feeling of not being alone through this change of life that keeps them returning throughout the 7-week program.

Help us fund valuable programs and services, such as CST, so seniors can continue to live safe and meaningful lives.