About
The Dementia Wellness website houses resources, learning modules, and information about programs that aim to improve and support the health and well-being of people living with dementia. The resources were developed as part of several research projects. In these projects, we worked closely with people living with dementia, care partners, community service providers, and health care providers.
Overview
This website will help users learn about dementia, inclusion, physical activity, healthy eating, mealtimes and eating together, and well-being. This includes:
- Free, online, evidence-based learning modules that teach you about dementia and dementia-inclusive practices. These modules are relevant to people who provide programs, services, or care to people living with dementia.
- Videos to help you understand the experiences of people living with dementia and how to support them.
- Printable resources for people living with dementia and those who support them.
- Information about the Dementia Lifestyle Intervention for Getting Healthy Together (DELIGHT) program and how to offer or access it in your community.
The website is organized into two sections:
People living with dementia
While the information in this section is for people living with dementia, the content and resources are also relevant to care partners, family members, friends, and community members interested in learning more about supporting the well-being of people living with dementia.
Service providers
This content includes learning modules and resources for program leaders, health care professionals, exercise providers, and more. Core modules about dementia and dementia-friendly practices will be relevant to almost all settings.
Approach to research
We use a participatory approach in these projects. This means that all members of the team are equal partners. We include the diverse perspectives of all members in all decision-making, especially those of our team members living with dementia. This project is for Canadians, by Canadians.
Researchers
Dr. Laura Middleton, PhD
Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia and Active Living
Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Health Sciences
University of Waterloo, Schlegel-UW Research Institute of Aging
Dr. Carrie McAiney, PhD
Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia; Scientific Director, MAREP Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Health Systems University of Waterloo, Schlegel-UW Research Institute of Aging
Dr. Heather Keller, RD, PhD, FDC, FCAHS
Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition and Aging Professor, Kinesiology and Health Sciences University of Waterloo, Schlegel-UW Research Institute of Aging
Projects
The Dementia Lifestyle Intervention for Getting Healthy Together (DELIGHT) program is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and aims to promote the health and well-being of people living with dementia and care partners through exercise, healthy eating, and sharing strategies to help navigate and live well with dementia.
DELIGHT was developed in collaboration with people living with dementia, care partners, health care providers, community service providers, and researchers.
Funding acknowledgement:
Production of this project has been made possible through funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the The Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the view of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The Dementia-Inclusive Choices for Exercise (DICE) team has developed evidence-based resources to improve the number and quality of physical activity opportunities available to people living with dementia.
These include learning modules that prepares exercise providers (as well as recreational leaders and sport coaches) with knowledge and skills necessary to engage with, accommodate the needs of, and guide exercise among people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
The Dementia-Inclusive Choices for Exercise (DICE) project is a collaboration of 22 people and 10 partner organizations.
Funding acknowledgement:
The DICE project is supported by funds from the Alzheimer Society Research Program, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Jobson Family Foundation, Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, and the University of Waterloo.
The Dementia Resource for Eating, Activity, and Meaningful Inclusion (DREAM) project has developed evidence-based, Canadian resources to improve the number, quality, and variety of physical activity, healthy eating, and wellness opportunities available to people living with dementia.
These include learning modules that prepare service providers with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage with, accommodate the needs of, and include people living with dementia in community programs and services.
The Dementia Resources for Eating, Activity, and Meaningful Inclusion (DREAM) project is a collaboration of 40 people and 15 partner organizations.
The DREAM project is supported by funds from the Public Health Agency of Canada – Dementia Community Investment.
Partners
