When the Morin family made the decision to walk with their mom, Janell, into a care home, they hoped increased support would allow them to spend more quality time with her. Just as their great-great-grandfather鈥檚 Tahltan community kept watch over him when he showed signs of what is now understood as Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, they hoped care home staff would be a part of their 鈥渧illage.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 long before they realized they鈥檇 need to speak up to ensure their mother was well-cared for, more than ever before.
January is , an opportunity for people to have conversations about dementia. The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is recognizing Alzheimer鈥檚 Awareness Month by sharing the experiences of people like the Morin family.
Since making the decision to move their mother into care, Janell鈥檚 children have faced significant challenges in ensuring that care is culturally sensitive and culturally safe. 鈥淟ook, this is the generation of Indian Residential School Survivors who are now needing this type of support and we need better solutions to support them properly,鈥� Peter says. 鈥淭his is also reconciliation and it needs to be addressed now.鈥�
When Janell was first diagnosed, the family learned about the disease together, which included honouring their experience by using language that felt right. Rather than referring to 鈥淎lzheimer鈥檚 disease,鈥� Kathleen prefers the phrase, 鈥渢he heart always knows.鈥�
鈥淚 hate that I say a white man鈥檚 name 100 times a day to speak about our mom鈥檚 experience,鈥� Peter says. 鈥淚ndigenous families have to use a white person鈥檚 name in order to make a relationship with this experience, so 鈥榯he heart always knows鈥� is so beautiful because it doesn鈥檛 give away our power.鈥�
It鈥檚 not easy for them to share their journey but they would not be doing so if they didn鈥檛 believe that change is possible.
鈥淚 really want the story to be shared,鈥� Kathleen says. 鈥淚 want my mom鈥檚 legacy to live on because she would want her story to be shared.鈥�
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Take part
In January, caregivers and people living with dementia will explore this year鈥檚 Alzheimer鈥檚 Awareness Month theme by sharing their unique journeys living with the disease in two virtual panel discussions.
- on January 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. PT
- on January 22 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. PT.
Find support
If you have questions about Alzheimer鈥檚 disease or other dementias, call the Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s for information and support (toll-free in B.C. only):
- English: 1-800-936-6033 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Cantonese and Mandarin: 1-833-674-5007 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu: 1-833-674-5003 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)