Residents of Rossland, Grand Forks, Greenwood, and Trail are invited to participate in an upcoming session that will help people living with Alzheimer’s navigate the BC transit system.
With many Kootenay Boundary residents relying on transit for their daily commute, finding ways to give them the confidence to navigate the transit system – especially if they happen to be living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia – is an important step toward building a better dementia-friendly community.
An upcoming event, “Transit accessibility and challenges: Tips for people living with dementia,” explores some of the challenges and strategies for using public transit when living with dementia.
“An inclusive transit system not only provides a safe environment but also creates opportunities for the public to be more aware of the signs for when people may benefit from extra support,” says Sana Aziz, coordinator Dementia-Friendly Communities at the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
“When people understand the behaviours related to dementia and have the tools to assist, they are more capable and prone to lend a helping hand to create an accessible and inclusive transit experience for all riders.”
The Alzheimer Society has partnered with TransLink’s Chris Chan to discuss Metro Vancouver’s diverse and accessible public transit and what it takes to create a system that is dementia friendly. Also joining the conversation is Jim Mann, a long-time dementia advocate, who will be sharing his personal experience in navigating transit while living with dementia.
Chan is the manager of travel training with Public Affairs at TransLink. He’s been a strong advocate for sharing information about public transit with customers with diverse abilities.
Mann was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007 at the age of 58. His focus is on addressing the stigma associated with dementia and promotes living positively with the disease. Through activities that include collaboration with researchers, he hopes to change minds and help others improve quality of life for people living with the disease.
The free online session takes place on Wednesday, July 13 at 2 p.m. PT. To register, visit alzbc.org/transit-dementia.
Upcoming webinar sessions include:
* An introduction to brain health (Wednesday, July 20 at 2 p.m. PT): It’s never too soon or too late to make changes if you are concerned about dementia. Learn strategies to maintain or improve your brain health. For the general public.
* How to support a friend who has dementia or is a caregiver (Wednesday, July 27 at 2 p.m. PT): Learn practical tips on how to offer support to a person living with dementia, their caregiver or family. For the general public.
To learn about other upcoming webinar topics, visit alzbc.org/webinars.
The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is committed to ensuring that people affected by dementia have the confidence and skills to live the best life possible. First Link dementia support is the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s suite of programs and services designed to help them. First Link is available throughout the progression of the disease, from diagnosis (or before) to end-of-life care.
Connect to First Link by asking your health-care provider for a referral or by calling the First Link Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033.
The Helpline is available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Information and support is also available in Punjabi (1-833-674-5003) and in Cantonese or Mandarin (1-833-674-5007), available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.