As accessing services in English grows increasingly challenging in Quebec, the Société Alzheimer Granby et région is in the process of developing services for the English-speaking communities of Brome-Missisquoi to ensure that individuals living with a neurocognitive impairment and their caregivers have access to the support they need for a quality of life. 

After being approached by Brome Lake community members, the Société Alzheimer Granby et région learned that services and programs for English-speaking Brome Lake citizens living with a neurocognitive impairment and their caregivers essentially didn’t exist, but that the need was significant. 

To help address that need, the group received funding from the Fédération des Médecins Spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ) to launch an English version of its “Together for Fun!” Program at Manoir Lac-Brome in February 2023, which invites 4-5 couples each consisting of an individual with a cognitive impairment and their caregiver to participate in adaptive recreational activities. The group is now gearing up for a second session of “Together for Fun!” Program this summer, and it’s working with other partners to identify what new, and existing, services and programs could help fulfill the needs of the anglophone population in Brome Lake and its surrounding areas.

“It was brought to our attention that there had already been services for older adults throughout the day centre in Brome Lake, but unfortunately they no longer have those services. We were also informed that there were no services for the English older adults with  neurocognitive impairments and that the need was quite elevated,” explained Caroline Hadlock, family and respite advisor at Société Alzheimer Granby et région. “With all of that taken into consideration, we decided that the “Together for Fun!” Program would bring a positive experience to people with a neurocognitive impairment and it also helps to equip the caregivers for what they’re going to be dealing with on a regular basis.”

After many participants expressed their desire for the program to continue, the Société Alzheimer Granby et région organized a session for this summer, registration is already complete, and they aim to hold another session in fall. With a high demand for “Together for Fun!” Program, the Société Alzheimer Granby et région wants to ensure that all Brome-Missisquoi citizens living with a neurocognitive impairment and their caregivers have access to whatever services and programs that may help better address their needs. 

“We are currently working with the advisory committee that was established (for the “Together for Fun program!”) to evaluate the program “Together for Fun!” and the needs of the population to develop additional adapted services for the English-speaking community,” noted Hadlock. 

The Société Alzheimer Granby et région already offers a wide range of services and programs to the Brome-Missisquoi and Haut-Yamaska regions, but not all are adapted to serve the English-speaking population. 

“There’s various trainings for caregivers and professionals that live in the territory, individual and group respite, we have discussion groups for affected individuals, coffee meetings for caregivers, psycho-social support, the “Together for Fun!” Program, and we have some other programs on the side as well,” mentioned Hadlock. “It’s really important to be informed that, at the moment, a lot of our programs are still being developed for the Anglophone population. Not all of them are offered in French and English, but if ever people are interested in the services we will be able to know what the demand is and expand from there.”

Hadlock said that there are a variety of reasons as to why it’s important for the English-speaking community to have access to programs like “Together for Fun!.”

“In addition to offering a program adapted to the needs of the affected individuals, the program also enables the individuals to break isolation through the creation of social networks and also to highlight that individuals who have a diagnosis of neurocognitive impairment are people that can enjoy a good quality of life despite the illness. It equally raises awareness of the importance of being caring and inclusive to individuals affected with a neurocognitive impairment and their caregivers because they are amongst us within out society,” she highlighted. 

With this in mind, Hadlock encourages anyone who has questions to contact the Société Alzheimer Granby et région if they have any questions. 

“We invite any citizen of the community to call the Alzheimer’s Society directly for any questions concerning the disease, for information on services that we offer, and even if anyone just needs some support if they’re living with a person that has a cognitive impairment,” she noted. 

Listen to the full interview below: