North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services (NSM SGS), in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society of Simcoe County and Muskoka, is redefining respite for care partners and older adults. At the core of this transformation is a refreshingly simple idea: helping care partners and their loved ones connect meaningfully outside the traditional health care system.
Launched with seed funding from Ontario Health Central Region, NSM SGS — with Waypoint as its lead agency — has developed with the Alzheimer’s Society a Care Partner Respite Program that’s as innovative as it is intuitive. By engaging local community organizations, it offers accessible and enriching activities for older adults, while giving caregivers a chance to recharge and build connections of their own.
They want to be able to do things that are enjoyable with each other that don’t cause a ton of stress. We’re offering opportunities for fun and recreation outside of the home, but in an environment that will set them up for success so they can mutually benefit from the activity.
Jenna Davis, Manager of NSM SGS’s Geriatric Mental Health Community team
In many conventional respite models, a health care worker might come into the home to provide supervision, allowing the caregiver a few hours away. The NSM SGS program flips this idea. Instead of staying home, care partners and their loved ones attend programs together in welcoming, low-stimulus environments tailored to older adults living with frailty and complexity, including dementia.
For those immersed in the daily demands of caregiving, these experiences offer respite, dignity and even small victories. Attending a recent MacLaren Art Centre watercolour workshop in Orillia were Monique Laforge and her husband, Greg, whose physical and mental health have been in decline for years due to a dementia-like condition. Greg told his wife it was a fun experience and a very pleasant atmosphere.
We feel it is important to have programs like these to keep people living with dementia engaged in the community.
Monique Laforge
NSM SGS has partnered with a diverse group of organizations, including the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, the Simcoe County Museum and Bradford Greenhouses. Each has adapted its programming to include smaller groups, sensory-friendly environments and flexible instruction.
Importantly, the program helps chip away at the stigma that can accompany cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s or dementia.
While the activities happen, caregiving spouses or partners can step aside to connect with one another. In these moments, friendships are formed over shared cups of tea, laughter and understanding.
They know it’s OK if their loved one gets up and wants to go explore something or engage in some resources over on the other side of the room. It’s not going to be disruptive to the group because everybody is on the same page.
Georgina Megens, Recreation Therapist
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