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The Guysborough and Area Dementia Support Group has been holding meetings for the past couple of months.
The organization offers support for people in the area living with the illness and provides support for their caregivers as well.
The groups initiator Ursula Ryan was inspired to start the group after her spouse was diagnosed with the condition and the program has been very successful at providing services that are hard to access in rural areas such as Guysborough. The general response from the people that attend has been overwhelming with one person saying the support has been a lifesaver.
The meetings have also had guest speakers including a local pharmacist that spoke about medication and services pharmacies offer, and a lawyer that discussed the legal matters that should be looked at when dealing with a loved one that has dementia. These guest speakers have provided important information to caregivers looking after dementia patients.
Ryan founded the group in 2020 but the meetings were put on hold due to COVID. They are now held on the first Monday of every month at the Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex.
Going forward, the group plans to have what is called a community memory café for people living with the condition and for their caregivers and friends and family. The planned event would have live music, refreshments, and a chance to socialize.
Dementia affects a person’s cognitive functioning and according to the World Health Organization, over 152 million people with have the condition by 2050.
