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This section consists of activities about you. It is important as it helps you to reflect on your past, present and future experiences both as an individual and care partner. You are encouraged to think about changes in your life, along with your hopes and goals.
Each of the activities in this section has a brief guide with some ideas to get you started. You may decide which activities you choose to do and how to do them.
You can keep this private or share it with others. That is up to you.
Taking care of someone with dementia requires time and energy. It can be a demanding and stressful task. Knowing and recognizing the signs of stress in yourself or someone you care about is the first step toward taking action.
Watch this video to learn about the 10 warning signs of care partner stress.
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For reflection...
After you watch the video, take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. Feel free to make some notes.
Care partner stress is a normal part of Alzheimer caregiving. There are steps you can take to reduce it but first, you must recognize it.
If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of care partner stress, it is important to seek help. The person under stress should go to the doctor for regular check-ups. Ask family members and friends for their help and support. Take advantage of community programs that provide respite and relief from caregiving, practical help with meals or housework and assistance with the care of the person with Alzheimer's disease. And plan ahead for both the immediate future and the long term. These are just some of the things care partners can do to make their lives a bit easier
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At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar at the top of the page and type a specific question or topic.
Completing a personal action plan can greatly enhance your motivation and keep you focused on what you can confidently achieve. It's important that you succeed!
Take some time to think about what you will do to continue to maintain or improve your brain health.
Download and print a copy of the activity sheet My Personal Action Plan below. Reflect on and answer the statements in both columns. Then circle the number between 0 and 10 that represents your confidence level.
You may have printed this activity sheet after completing another session. Feel free to use the one sheet to track all of your actions in one place as you move through this program.
If you rate your confidence below a 7, you might want to look at the barriers and consider reworking your action plan so that it's something you are confident that you can accomplish.
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At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar at the top of the page and type a specific question or topic.
Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for your heart health - and your brain health.
A healthy eating plan means eating when you're hungry and stopping when you've had enough. It includes creating healthy meals from the Four Food groups as outlined in Canada's Food Guide:
Portion control is also important.
Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
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Session 6 of this Brain Health program focuses on Making Healthy Food Choices: It will help you to:
Also, to learn more about healthy food choices and healthy weight, go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's website. There they have a dedicated section on HEALTH INFORMATION. All the content is Canadian, current and has been developed and approved by Heart and Stroke Foundation medical and other experts.
https://www.heartandstroke.ca/get-healthy/healthy-weight
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There are 2 types of cholesterol - good and bad. It's so important to keep it at healthy levels because high blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. And we know "what's good for your heart is good for your brain."
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada recommends that you ask your healthcare provider to check your cholesterol if:
Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
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To learn more about how to get your cholesterol in check, go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's website. There they have a dedicated section on HEALTH INFORMATION. All the content is Canadian, current and has been developed and approved by Heart and Stroke Foundation medical and other experts.
https://www.heartandstroke.ca/
Are you at risk? Take the Heart & Stroke Risk AssessmentTM and get a personalized risk profile and a customized action plan for healthy living that includes tips, tools, recipes and much more to help you reduce your risk.
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At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar at the top of the page and type a specific question or topic.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada recommends that you get your blood pressure checked at least once every year by a healthcare provider.
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (or other related conditions), your doctor may recommend that you get it checked more often. Be sure to ask your doctor how often you should have your blood pressure checked.
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Use the Blood Pressure Tracking Record (Wallet Card) to track your blood pressure. It's a handy, wallet-sized card made available by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
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Go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's website. There they have a dedicated section on HEALTH INFORMATION. All the content is Canadian, current and has been developed and approved by Heart and Stroke Foundation medical and other experts.
https://www.heartandstroke.ca/
Are you at risk? Take the Heart & Stroke Risk AssessmentTM and get a personalized risk profile and a customized action plan for healthy living that includes tips, tools, recipes and much more to help you reduce your risk.
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At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar at the top of the page and type a specific question or topic.
The risk of developing dementia appears to increase as a result of conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels, particularly when these occur at mid-life.
These conditions include:
Source: 5 Simple Steps to Maximize Your Brain Health, Alzheimer's Australia.
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Research indicates that having diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, and not treating them effectively, can damage the blood vessels in the brain, affecting brain function and thinking skills. Obesity is associated with increased risk for dementia, and other conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and vascular disease.
Untreated high blood pressure, specifically in mid-life has been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Promisingly, treatment of mid-life high blood pressure has been found to reduce dementia risk. High blood pressure in old age is not seen to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease but is undesirable at any age.
Treatment of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity is necessary for good heart health and is likely also to protect brain health.
They are all conditions that are easily identified and treatable. It's important to have regular health checks and follow the advice of your health professional.
Source: 5 Simple Steps to Maximize Your Brain Health, Alzheimer's Australia.
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Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and other diseases.
Studies have shown that current smokers have a greater chance of developing dementia than people who don't smoke.
There is no safe level of smoking. If you do smoke, seek medical advice on ways to help you quit.
Source: 5 Simple Steps to Maximize Your Brain Health, Alzheimer's Australia.
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At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar at the top of the page and type a specific question or topic.
Taking care of your general health and paying attention to your "health numbers" are practical actions you can take to improve your brain health.
By making healthy lifestyle choices, you may be able to reduce your risk and improve your brain's ability to sustain long-term health.
Will healthy lifestyle choices prevent Alzheimer's disease? There are no guarantees, but evidence suggests that healthy lifestyles help the brain maintain connections and even build new ones. That means that a healthy brain can withstand illness better. So take action today.
Sessions 5 to 8 of this program touch on the following four important lifestyle choices:
Watch this video and listen to host Liana Shannon, as she provides a brief overview of these four topics. When you complete this session, take some time to work through session 8 and if you haven't already done so, return to sessions 5 and 6.
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All care partners of people living with dementia experience their own unique journey.
Some care partners progress through a series of stages, while others do not follow any set pattern. Here's a look at the typical stages you might experience…
At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar at the top of the page and type a specific question or topic.
Click on the icon below to download and print a brief self-reflection activity sheet. The purpose of this tool is to help you think about what you have learned and to provide a space for you to document some of your thoughts and ideas for moving forward.
