the alzheimer society of toronto helps clients experience moments of joy, hope and appreciation of what their lives still have to offer
“our philosophy is that if the care partner is healthy and supported, that gives the person living with dementia the best chance at success,” says dave spedding, ceo of the alzheimer society of toronto
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ian and ellen goldman attended a valentine’s day dance last year, which is just one of the many programs and services offered by the alzheimer society of toronto. supplied
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alzheimer society of toronto
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ian goldman radiates warmth and quiet pride when he talks about his wife, ellen, a psychologist who retired in 2018. “her real essence is her compassion,” the toronto man explains. “she spent the last phase of her career driving up to barrie (ont.) twice a week to facilitate a peer support group for family members of people with cancer.”
but while that big heart may be ellen’s defining trait, goldman says it was paired with a sharp mind. “she was always good with math.” in fact, it was ellen’s perceptive abilities that detected subtle changes in her mental capabilities around the time she retired.
“she noticed she was not remembering directions and phone numbers as well as she used to,” goldman recalls. ellen voiced her concerns to her family physician, who ultimately referred her for a formal memory test. that evaluation confirmed that ellen was experiencing the early stages of dementia.
receiving that diagnosis “is like being shoved into the deep end of a swimming pool,” goldman says. and this was despite the fact that goldman was already more than knowledgeable about dementia. goldman’s mother cared for her husband throughout his journey with the disease, before she herself was diagnosed with alzheimer’s in 2014.
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as a long-distance care partner for his mother, who lived in the uk, goldman got involved with the alzheimer society of toronto (ast), first as a client, then as a volunteer. an engineer who helps people identify whether specific technologies can help them, goldman has been involved in numerous pilot projects to test innovations, as well as participated on advisory panels and working groups seeking to improve life around cognitive impairment, dementia, caregiving and aging.
after goldman’s mother was diagnosed, he and ellen raised funds for ast through what was then known as the walk for memories — now the ig wealth management walk for alzheimer’s. “we walked for my mom,” goldman says. friends and family members “would contribute or send a message of support, which we deeply appreciated.”
when the goldmans were initially plunged into the depths following ellen’s diagnosis, their health-care team recommended they reach out to ast for access to support groups and care navigation services.
“during those difficult first days, ast’s first link® care navigator program really helped me,” goldman says. first link helps people living with dementia, and their care partners, get their bearings and learn new ways of living day to day. like all of ast’s programs, a formal diagnosis isn’t required.
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through both virtual and in-person education sessions, the goldmans learned everything they could about alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia so they could make informed care decisions. “i also went to a couple of care partner support groups, where i was able to give as well as receive resources and experiences, which is quite therapeutic,” goldman says.
“no matter where you are in your dementia journey, we have something for everybody,” says dave spedding, ceo of ast.
spedding explains that these frontline services are offered to care partners and those living with any form of dementia, with a range of in-person and online options to suit different needs. “our primary focus is supporting care partners and helping them navigate the system, because our philosophy is that if the care partner is healthy and supported, that gives the person living with dementia the best chance at success.”
dave spedding is the ceo of the alzheimer society of toronto. supplied
“everything we offer individuals on their dementia journey is absolutely free,” spedding notes. this is possible in part thanks to ast’s largest fundraising event of the year — the ig wealth management walk for alzheimer’s.
held at fort york’s garrison common and typically drawing up to 1,500 participants, the event brings multiple generations together for the cause. it often gives ast staff, many of whom volunteer their time, a chance to meet their clients’ children and grandchildren.
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this year’s walk will take place on saturday, may 24. to register for the event and start fundraising, visit http://walk.alz.to.
perhaps the greatest gifts the goldmans have received from ast are moments of joy, hope and appreciation of what their lives still have to offer. through the active living program, the couple attended a 2024 valentine’s day dance, and they also take part in a virtual music program. “we both love music,” goldman says.
earlier this year, along with 14 fellow group members, the goldmans spent weeks rehearsing as a community choir for ast’s first original production, “love and the trick of time,” at the tarragon theatre.
“uplifting is the least you can say about it,” goldman says of the experience. better yet, the excitement, enjoyment and connection with others experiencing different journeys lifted ellen’s mood, while learning lyrics and engaging with other people stimulated her mind — as a result, her symptoms improved.
“she’d happily tell people about the songs we were singing, and was recalling recent events, which she hadn’t been able to do for some time,” goldman says.
but while these services and supports may be free, unfortunately, running them isn’t. “we need people to register for the walk, and we need them to raise funds,” spedding stresses. “it all goes directly to clients. the more funds we raise, the more people we can help.”
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to support ast by participating in the walk for alzheimer’s, or to make a one-time or monthly donation, visit https://alz.to/give/.
this story was created by healthing content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of the alzheimer society of toronto.
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