Programs & Services
The Alzheimer Society serves Sault Ste. Marie and the entire Algoma District. It covers an area of 48,737 square kilometres and a population of 118,567. Staff visit District communities on a regularly scheduled basis. A toll-free number is available to provide convenient access to the office in Sault Ste. Marie. The Society also maintains a satellite office in Elliot Lake to serve the needs of the East Algoma/North Shore area.
Caregiver Support/Education Groups
In Sault Ste. Marie, caregivers meet with a facilitator on a regularly scheduled basis for an informal sharing of experiences, as well as education on topics of interest. There is also an active Caregiver Support Group in Elliot Lake. Individuals interested in starting support groups in their own communities are encouraged to call the Alzheimer Society for assistance. If desired, caregivers may also meet with the Family Support Case Worker on an individual basis as needed.
Client Support
People who are concerned about their own memory loss, and who may or may not have been diagnosed with a dementia, can receive support from the Family Support Case Worker on an individual basis or in a group setting. This allows people to share their experiences and concerns, and to receive support and education.
Recreation Therapy
This program provides in-home recreation therapy to people affected by dementia. Clients will receive the benefit of an individualized treatment program by a Recreation Therapist, and caregivers may receive the benefit of respite for the duration of the therapist's visit.
Volunteer Visiting Program
Specially trained volunteers visit clients in their homes one or two hours per week to offer socialization and stimulating activities. This program also provides respite for family caregivers.
Safely Home - Alzheimer Wandering Registry
All family caregivers of persons at risk of wandering are encouraged to register them with the Alzheimer Wandering Registry. On completion of a personal information form, the document is forwarded to Alzheimer Canada for inclusion in the RCMP database of Wandering Persons. This National Wandering Registry, which became effective in January 1996, is accessible to every police force in the country. This service is confidential and a one-time charge of $35.00, payable to Alzheimer Canada, also covers the cost of an identification bracelet.
Public Education and Awareness
The Society provides educational sessions to a variety of groups, service providers, and organizations. Customized education packages on a wide range of topics are available upon request at no charge. The Society participates in Health Fairs and Educational Displays on a regular basis. Customized educational sessions have been developed and widely presented to such groups as: Grade 5 classes, church congregations, facility volunteers, etc. The Society also hosts an Education Conference once a year which traditionally attracts more than 120 care providers from across Algoma District as well as upper Michigan.
Katherine L. Punch Resource Centre
An extensive collection of up-to-date videos, books, and activities are available for loan, free of charge. The Society also subscribes to a number of dementia-related professional journals. The articles from these journals are catalogued in our internal database by title, author, and subject, and are accessible to anyone wanting more information on a specific topic.
