Dementia incidence in Indigenous communities is projected to rise by 273% by 2050, according to a recent Alzheimer Society of Canada report. The need for accessible, culturally sensitive dementia education and support for caregivers in Indigenous communities has never been greater. 成人VR视频鈥檚 Dementia Education Program (DEP) has been helping meet that need in Eeyou Istchee (Cree) communities in Quebec with its caregiver training workshops.
The partnership began in 2023,听when听Sarah Quint from听the听听of James Bay (CBHSSJB)鈥檚 Department of Program Development and听Support听听reached听out to听DEP听seeking dementia training for caregivers and staff.听What听began with sessions at 成人VR视频鈥檚听Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning听in Montreal,听has since听led to in-person workshops in听Chisasibi,听Wemindji,听Ouj茅-Bougoumou,听Mistissini,听and听other communities served by the CBHSSJB,听which is听part of the听RUISSS 成人VR视频听network,听to allow more people to take part.听
Led by program founder and ambassador Claire Webster, the DEP aims to build awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen networks of care by meeting people where they are, geographically and emotionally. She has been听offering workshops at 成人VR视频 since 2017 but听has听been involved in educating caregivers since听2011,听initially as part of听her own听听and later听as an听advocate for caregivers and patients.听听听
Webster鈥檚听sessions begin with her personal听story听and听Quint says听her听openness helped create a space for meaningful connection in Eeyou听Istchee.听鈥淐aregivers and staff听appreciated听how Claire shared her lived experience as a caregiver for someone with dementia,鈥� Quint says. 鈥淪he did not shy away from difficult topics. Her stories reveal the similarities lived by caregivers across cultures and into the more remote regions of the province.鈥澨�
Webster notes that conversations in Indigenous communities often听bring up听intergenerational challenges, including the impacts of residential schools, loss, and isolation. 鈥淚鈥檝e been asked quite a few times if being a residential school survivor increases the risk for dementia,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose questions show how important it is to create a safe space for discussion and to recognize that dementia education must consider people鈥檚 lived experiences.鈥澨�
While every community鈥檚 circumstances differ, Webster says the emotional reality of caregiving is universal. 鈥淭he feelings are the same,鈥� she reflects. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 different is the support people have around them.鈥� She has adapted her workshops in Eeyou听Istchee听to incorporate dementia risk factors specific to Indigenous communities as well as including听听developed by the听CBHSSJB, with artwork by听Chisasibi听artist听, in her presentation.
A cornerstone of the听DEP听is听Dementia, Your听Companion Guide, a free resource offering practical information on understanding dementia, navigating care systems, and supporting loved ones.听Webster听emphasizes that the program is meant for everyone involved in care: nurses, frontline workers, and community health professionals as well as family caregivers.听鈥淭he workshops are for everyone,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e听conversations, not lectures. People bring their own examples, about caregiving, trauma, or听what鈥檚听happening in their families.听That鈥檚听what makes each session unique.鈥澨�
In听Mistissini, recalls听Webster,听a participant returned with several family members for a second workshop. 鈥淪he told me, 鈥楾his time, I understand the importance of making sure that everybody in the family is educated.鈥欌�澨�
A key focus of her workshops is the 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia:听less education, head injury, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hearing loss, depression, infrequent social contact, air pollution, vision loss and cholesterol. Addressing these 鈥渕ight prevent or delay nearly half of dementia cases,鈥� notes the 2024 of the Lancet standing commission on dementia.For Indigenous communities, where colonialism, trauma and systemic barriers have heightened these risks, that knowledge is especially urgent.
Looking ahead, Webster鈥檚 team plans to expand outreach to more Indigenous communities, build local support networks, and grow the program鈥檚 virtual offerings.听听
The听DEP鈥檚听initiative听recently听expanded to听Algonquin communities in Quebec, many receiving dementia education for the first time. 鈥淭hey invited everybody: nurses, secretaries, the whole community,鈥� says Webster of one recent workshop. 鈥淎round 40 people attended. You could have heard a pin drop. I always see them nodding along and say things like, 鈥楾his is what鈥檚 happening to me.鈥欌��
Learn more about 成人VR视频鈥檚听Dementia Education Program听and access the free听Dementia,听Your听Companion Guide听and other resources.听
This article is part of our series,鈥�, which celebrates the contributions of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences members across Quebec. From Mont茅r茅gie and Outaouais to Eeyou听Istchee听and Nunavik, our students, trainees,听clinicians听and researchers are proud and privileged to partner with local communities to learn and teach, to care for Quebecers and to improve health outcomes for all.鈥�.听
