Dementia Dialogue

We all get to feel young: Episode 5 of Intergenerational Engagement series

Mona Loffelmann, founder and executive director created African Family Revival Organization (AFRO) in 2015 because of a disconnect she witnessed between youth and seniors and the larger community. According to Mona, seniors don’t have access to the things most of us do, for example, health and allied health services, due in part to a language barrier or a fear of going out into the community. Some may have dementia and others are just isolated. Mona felt compelled to make a change.

During our conversation, Mona speaks about the many programs offered by AFRO to both seniors and young people in the Waterloo Region and surround areas such as Guelph. AFRO received funding from Red Cross which allowed them to create a program whereby youth would support seniors by dropping off supplies, which turned into a buddy program. The organization received further funding from the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and the Government of Canada to create an in-person program that brings together seniors and youth.

This episode also includes a conversation with Ms. D (or Diney), a 75 year old “Senior Ambassador” at AFRO. Ms. D has become a spokesperson helping to connect AFRO with other seniors in the community, and Elise who is a student involved in AFRO. They both talk about how their relationship is mutually beneficial.

 

Resources:

Afrofamily.ca

Phone

(548)-889-3506

(519)-223-AFRO (2376)

Address

737 Belmont Ave. W, Suite 4

Kitchener, Ontario, N2M 1P3

 

About the guest:

Mona Loffelmann, Founder and Executive Director, African Family Revival Organization (AFRO)

Over the past decade, Mona has been working to ensure that all members of our community feel valued, included, and heard. In this role, she is be responsible for developing and implementing outreach programs that engage black and other marginalized groups, building relationships with key stakeholders, and working to create a more inclusive and equitable community.

Mona possesses adequate communication, organizational, and resilience skills. She is enthusiastic about her work and continues to collaborate with other organizations to provide community-oriented services. More importantly, Mona is constantly looking to collaborate with other organizations to track and measure the success of outreach efforts, making recommendations for improvement as needed.

Mona has a strong understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and she strives to educate others through presentations and training programs. In fact, Mona has completed a number of training programs including; “Train the Trainers Resilience Training” in partnership with Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region. She has also completed “Intercultural Leadership Training” with Muslim Social Services of Waterloo Region.

Mona is the Project Coordinator and Cultural Navigator for AFRO's Support Through Generations program, as well as the Executive Director of AFRO. Mona, along with the other AFRO board members, contributes to major decisions and changes that benefit the organization and community as a whole.

 

 

Sécurité et conduite automobile

Notre invitée pour ce balado est Karine Wibrin. Karine est ergothérapeute pour le Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara où elle travaille avec une clientèle diversifiée, dont des personnes atteintes de troubles neurocognitifs majeurs.

 

Ensemble, nous avons parlé de sécurité et de conduite automobile, en particulier en ce qui concerne les personnes atteintes de troubles neurocognitifs majeurs. Comment savoir quand il est temps de renoncer à son permis de conduire ? Quels sont les signes avant-coureurs que les membres de la famille et les proches aidants devraient rechercher ? Quand et comment doit-on en discuter avec son proche ?

 

Karine Wibrin Biographie

Karine a fait ses études en ergothérapie à l'Université de Montréal. Elle a travaillé dans divers centres hospitaliers et centres de réadaptation à Montréal. Elle a ensuite déménagé en Ontario où elle a travaillé 2 ans dans une clinique privée avec des personnes accidentées de la route. Elle travaille actuellement pour le Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara depuis 14 ans. 

You DO matter! Exploring the impact of mattering in caregiving.

You DO matter! Exploring the impact of mattering in caregiving.  

 
Dr. Gordon Flett’s research on mattering highlights a crucial aspect of psychological well-being, especially for caregivers. Mattering, the sense of feeling significant or valuable to others, can greatly influence one’s sense of self-worth and overall mental health. For caregivers, this feeling of mattering can be self-generated, often through acts of giving and supporting others.  

Dr. Flett emphasizes that by valuing oneself and acknowledging the efforts of those who provide care, individuals can foster a greater sense of hope. This not only benefits the caregiver but also enhances their resilience and adaptability, which are essential traits for managing the challenges associated with caregiving. The sense of mattering can thus play a pivotal role in sustaining motivation and emotional strength in caregiving roles. 

Guest host for this webinar: Ann-Marie Kungl, CEO, Alzheimer Society-Simcoe County.