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140 Riverside Dr E, Drumheller, AB, T0J 0Y4

The Drumheller Community Seniors Coalition Team; Image courtesy of Kim Larsen

Some positive news for those families that are living with dementia in the Drumheller Valley.

A relatively new group, the Drumheller Community Seniors Coalition, has been working very hard to bring programs and services to the Drumheller Valley supporting people living with dementia, families, support people, and those at risk of isolation or without a social support network. The “Coalition” applied for a grant through the Rural Development Network to bring Memory Café to Drumheller.  Kim Larsen, a Community Recreation Therapist with Alberta Health Services in Drumheller, shares the details of Memory Café. “Memory Cafe is a program that is designed to be friendly and welcoming. To provide social interaction, support, and activities, for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Our hope is that it will bring people together that have similar living situations so they can enjoy the comradery of others who understand what it’s like to live with dementia, or to be in the caregiving role.”

Involved in the Drumheller Community Seniors Coalition are Kim Larsen and Lisa Orton with AHS, Amanda Panisiak with the Primary Care Network, and Liza Trohan, Senior Outreach Nurse with AHS.

There are numerous benefits to those who attend Memory Café according to Larsen. “We have found that there is not a lot of opportunity for people living with dementia, and their caregivers, to participate in activities where that supportive environment is provided. Because everyone coming to the program will be in a similar situation, that risk of stigma is gone. Our hope is that they are able to form friendships and that they’ll look forward to coming to this program every month.”

The program has partnered with the Homestead Museum so that they will be able to use some items to spur on the conversation. Larsen also shares that with the funding received by the grant, $5,000, they may be able to go on outings to other locations in our community, like the Royal Tyrrell Museum, or even bring in entertainment to the monthly meeting.

If you are interested in being involved or would like more information on the program, contact either Kim Larsen or Lisa Orton, who are both AHS Community Recreation Therapists by phone at 403-820-7297. The venues for the meetings are yet to be confirmed.

 

https://www.drumhelleronline.com/local/memory-cafe-to-help-dementia-patients-in-drumheller-valley?fbclid=IwAR2PE-26SVADiJzR64tLBJ7NoFeoySMoutizJAJXbNpMl5Nxkggf47oSmxg

Mama, My Hero – By Anthea Maseka

Anthea Maseka was inspired by her daughter-in-law, who worked as an ICU nurse while pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic, to write a children’s book, “Mama, My Hero”.

Mama, My Hero highlights the realities of the current pandemic and the magic of a uniquely innocent perspective. This is the story of one day in the life of an intensive care unit nurse working during the COVID-19 pandemic, as told by her unborn baby.

She has been featured on CityTV, A Woman A Day YYC, and DrumhellerOnline.

More information about the book can be found on: http://www.ammaseka.com

Drumheller & Area Health Foundation Support

Drumheller Associated Physicians and Guardian Radiology each presented the Drumheller Area Health Foundation (DAHF) with $7,500 in donations, totaling $15,000, towards the laparoscopic surgical tower. DAHF has been raising funds to purchase a new laparoscopic tower to help support laparoscopic surgeries such as hernia and gall bladder at the Drumheller Health Centre and, to date, a total of $152,000 has been raised; DAHF is hopeful the remaining $8,000 will soon be fully fundraised and the tower can be purchased this year. At the presentation were (l-r) interim acting site manager and acute care manager for Drumheller Health Centre Maria Bergos, Sarah Crain from Guardian Radiology, DAHF treasurer Gary Krabsen, DAHF director Tom Zariski, and Dr. A. Randolph and Dr. C. Blackburn from Drumheller Associated Physicians.

 

 

https://www.drumhellermail.com/news/34307-drumheller-associated-physicians-guardian-radiology-support-laparoscopic-tower?fbclid=IwAR3WbldH3xS2MG1a0wtR1ioFFPzZ0Gzbc3JxnGuDo-YnxpLP3pLfmk6LNIY