We know that coming together in positive and shared spaces to receive informational, social and emotional support works for people affected by rare or young onset dementia. We also know that people need different types of supports at different times. Our community offers different types of virtual group spaces where people with a diagnosis, their friends and family and those working with people with a diagnosis may come together for support.
Group supports are offered to:
Socially participate with others with similar experiences
Engage with support that can enhance your wellness and that of your family or friends
Learn more about the social, emotional and physical changes that you or a family member or friend are navigating
Our support groups run throughout the year. They are facilitated by a trained support worker and include up to 8 members. Some groups are time limited and others run continuously. Our current groups include:
Diagnostic specific groups (e.g., PCA, FTD, LBD)
Family & Friends group
A Road Less Travelled: A group for grief and loss
Words Together: A group for people newly diagnosed
Peer to peer conversations are usually 1-2 sessions to discuss specific topic areas that might be relevant to you. These topics are sometimes raised in other groups but often not fully explored for you. Topics include, among others:
Communicating with someone living with dementia
Family celebrations
Planning a holiday
Maintaining my social connections
Navigating a hospital appointment or hospitalization
How to support the children
Educational Groups
Our educational groups or webinars are larger groups of people affected by a dementia and practitioners who work in the field. The webinars provide specialist advice and information on the different types of dementia. We cover some of the latest research, new service innovations or other initiatives that are addressing rare or young onset dementia. Speakers are national and international experts that are pleased to keep you up to date with new learning in the field. We host a minimum of one webinar per condition per year.