CORNWALL, Ontario – On Tues. Feb. 7, local MP, Guy Lauzon was honoured to rise in the House of Commons to announce that his office would be the first Member of Parliament office to be recognized as a Dementia Friendly Community.
Following last week’s training with the Alzheimer Society of Cornwall & District, MP Guy Lauzon and constituency office staff were given tools to better understand dementia, helping to better understand the illness and more effectively communicate with those affected by the disease.
“Becoming a Dementia Friendly Community is a simple task that will go a long way in dispelling myths about dementia and helping to eliminate the stigma that many, of the over half a million Canadians living with dementia, feel daily,” said Lauzon.
With three out of four Canadians being impacted by dementia, Shelley Vaillancourt, Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Cornwall & District, says that supporting people who are living with dementia starts with understanding the illness.
“We are very pleased that MP Guy Lauzon and his entire office were trained to become a dementia friendly community,” said Vaillancourt. “Becoming a dementia friend and looking at how your neighbourhood, business or organization can do simple things to help support people with dementia and their caregivers enriches everyone’s engagement within our communities”
For those living with dementia, understanding will do wonders in improving the quality of life of those living with the disease, as well as their care-partners. The training provided by the Alzheimer Society sheds light on how we can support people living with dementia to stay in their communities, service groups, and homes. This education focuses primarily on embracing methods to keep them included, and supporting active engagement in their communities.
Anyone interested in finding out how to turn their neighbourhood, business or organization into a dementia friendly community is encouraged to contact the Alzheimer Society at 613-932-4914. There is no charge for this service.
