Services for Caregivers of People with Dementia

"Your vision, dedication, commitment, compassion and attention to detail have driven change and led the way to new beginnings across Northern Health. Thank you for leading the DementiAbility Journey - and working with a brilliant team of dedicated staff, family and volunteers - who have been delighted to work with you, as you worked with us, to change the face of dementia.

You are a pioneer and an inspiration! The DementiAbility Team extends heartfelt gratitude for all you have done to improve the lives of those living with dementia."

— Gail Elliot, Founder, DementiAbility Enterprises, Inc.

  • 6-Month Coaching & Support Program

    This program consists of four 1-hour sessions per month:

    — Two hours with the person being cared for. While you take a much-needed break, I’ll work 1:1 with your loved one to implement and activate effective approaches to daily living for people living with dementia.

    — Two hours of wellness coaching focused on you. Let me help you meet your own personal goals and needs!

    Learn more.

  • Free Monthly Webinars for Caregivers and the Mini-Coaching Program

    Welcome to my free webinars for caregivers of individuals with dementia! This is a safe space for you to explore relevant topics, share your thoughts of gratitude or frustration, and connect with fellow caregivers facing similar challenges.

    Each session is limited to a maximum of 8 participants. Learn more.

    Mini-Coaching Program

    Check out my mini-coaching program to explore self-care strategies. I have 8 free spots for this spring. Learn more.

  • Facilitation & Resources

    Are you looking for help on something specific like putting memory cues in place, creating a memory book, or strategizing around creating a community of care or a respite plan? Email me at Marcia.Bertschi@gmail.com to set up a time!

    Check out these great free resources for caregivers. You can watch videos, read information. or connect with someone through a helpline. What would be helpful for you right now?

    — Caregiver Learning Centre (Family Caregivers BC)

    — I'm caring for a person living with dementia (Alzheimer Society of Canada)

  • Memory Cues

    If your loved one can still read and comprehend, you can place information in their environment to help them navigate.

    There are so many helpful ways you can do this:

    — Create a memory book (their life in words and pictures)

    — Set up a whiteboard with upcoming events or words of encouragement

    — Add pictures to prompt the person to remember where things are located in their home

    Sometimes a person will follow these prompts themselves, and at and other times they may need reminders to do so.

    For more information:

    — A sample memory book (DementiAbility)

    — Shortened Memory Aids for Dementia (DementiAbility)

  • Reflection & Planning

    Embarking on the caregiver journey is a profound experience, filled with twists and turns that reveal insights about yourself and others. It's a path that can easily become overwhelming, leaving you feeling like control is slipping away.

    But with the help of moments of reflection and thoughtful planning, you can illuminate your path and bring clarity to your journey ahead.

    An informative and useful tool to help you reflect, clarify and move forward:

    — Caregiver Support Plan: Making it Personal (Family Caregivers of BC)

  • Cognitive Care Kits

    If you live in Northern BC, Canada, your public library has cognitive care kits that you can borrow. These are fun collections of games, activities and workbooks that help support the skills and abilities of people living with dementia.

    You’ll be able to try out various resources and activities with your loved one to see what they enjoy and where their abilities are.

    If your area lacks this resource, I volunteer my time to help communities create cognitive care kits for their public libraries or other places of support.

    — Check out my page on cognitive care kits.

    — Email me at Marcia.Bertschi@gmail.com to talk about strategies and resources for your specific context.