Impact Report 2014

The impact ofyour support isimmeasurable. Chris Dennis Interim Chief Executive Officer Impact Report 2014-2015 Every day, because of you, individuals and families who have been faced with an irreversible diagnosis find respite, express concerns, share experiences, get tips, and receive emotional comfort. Ultimately our goal is Help for Today through programs and services and Hope for Tomorrow®... through ground- breaking research. Donors like you are very much a part of achieving that goal. Here are some recent achievements made possible through your support.

HELP FORTODAY 3 out of 5 Finding Your WayTM people with The Alzheimer Society of Ontario developed Finding Your WayTM ,dementia will go a unique multicultural safety awareness initiative for people withmissing at some dementia and designed to raise awareness of the risks of going missing and prevent such incidents from happening. point. Dementia doesn’t discriminate, affecting men and women of all If not found races, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. That’s why the within program is now available in 12 languages, helping society as a whole better understand some of the behaviours associated with 24 hours dementia, raise awareness of missing incidents in our communitieshalf of them will “and in turn providing tools to deal with the risk of going missing. have a serious The first time Juanito ran out, it was injury or die. snowing and he wasn’t wearing a jacket. That really scared me. Finding Your WayTM really helps Filipino caregivers like me to understand dementia and connect us with other resources Patrick T. Care partner

HOPE FOR TOMORROW“Both my Mom and Dad are transformed when they are at this simple yet effective program. Minds in Motion gives them a place to not only engage in physical activity but also develop a supportive social network with others in the group. Patrick T. Care partnerMinds in Motion®This comment is a tribute to the power of Minds in Motion®, an Alzheimer Societyprogram designed for people with early to mid-stage signs of Alzheimer’s disease orother dementias and their care partners.Minds in Motion incorporates physical activity and mental stimulation as a way ofhelping people live well with the disease, while encouraging care partners to take care ofthemselves as well. But the social aspect of the program is a critical success factor. Peoplewith dementia often feel isolated because of the stigma associated with the disease.Minds in Motion promotes an environment that helps participants establish friendshipswith others who are living similar experiences.

I want caregivers toknow they are important. They are valuable. We want to make sure theyget the support they need as quickly as possible. Dr. Dawn Guthrie Gerentologist & Associate Professor Wilfred Laurier UniversityResearchThere is still no cure for dementia. Some drugs may temporarily improve symptoms, butnone can slow, stop, or reverse them. That’s why many of our Alzheimer Society ResearchProgram researchers are delving into the science of the brain. Their goal is to identifypotential new treatments, use neuroimaging to distinguish different forms of dementia,and study how diet and other lifestyle choices may delay the disease. But because it cantake years for biomedical studies to yield results, the Alzheimer Society also funds researchthat can help people with dementia live well today.Our Canadian researchers are considered true innovators within the medical researchcommunity. Many of them have received international acclaim with endorsement andrecognition of their work by other funding agencies.Your dollars have helped our Canadian researchers to: • Identify potential new drugs to slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease • Develop techniques to distinguish different forms of dementia using neuroimaging, enabling more targeted treatments for people with dementia • Show how diet and other lifestyle choices may delay the disease • Develop technologies to enhance the quality of life, care and safety for people affected by the disease • Improve care delivery in the community and in long-term care settings5 Quality of Life 8 Biomedical $1.28M awarded to Researchers Researchers researchers in funded in 2014 funded in 2014 Ontario in 2014