September 21 was World Alzheimer's Day. According to the Alzheimer's World Report published by Alzheimer's Disease International, more than 35 million people worldwide will be living with dementia in 2010.

Read the full press release from The Alzheimer Society of Canada.

The Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay has a gardening series this summer for people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and their families:

People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias can benefit from Gardening Activities

Alzheimer Society and Willow Springs join forces for three session gardening series

JULY 6, 2009 – THUNDER BAY – For those of us in this northern climate summer has finally arrived. If you aren’t already out there, start thinking about outdoor activities. What better thoughts then those of a beautiful fragrant garden setting. Willow Springs Creative Centre and the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay will be hosting a series of gardening sessions for people with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia and their families starting on Thursday, July 9, 2009. The media is cordially invited to attend.

Joy Nieminen, Public Education Coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay states “gardening and gardens provide a wide variety of therapeutic activities for all types of seniors including those recovering from surgery and illness, those with dementia, those who need more exercise, or those who simply want to improve their quality of life with a pleasant hobby.”

Research shows that gardening may actually slow down short term memory loss in those with Alzheimer’s disease, which is one of the first abilities to be lost as the disease progresses. This is due to stimulation of the brain that the many activities of gardening involve. There are many reminiscence benefits as gardening, and often bring back many fond memories of days gone by.

“Gardens have been widely used in Alzheimer’s therapy, often with excellent results. Gardening helps stimulate the brain and also gives residents ‘a contained and simple world’ that has a past, present and reality. This can be helpful when the persons’ life may be becoming confused,” says Nieminen.

Participants of the gardening series will receive a garden tour, they will learn how to make seed bombs that can be planted anywhere at any time, and make a small rustic twig planter and plant it up with flowers to take home, and paint up a plant marker for their own garden.

Details

What: Alzheimer Gardening Series

Where: Roots to Havest (Gardening Site)
Corner of Cornwall Street and Algoma Street, Thunder Bay, ON

When: Thursday July 9, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Spokespersons: Joy Nieminen, Public Education Coordinator, Alzheimer Society

Several hundred people attended the 3rd Annual RONA Memory Walk at the Old Port in Montreal, May 31. The Alzheimer Society of Montreal raised more than 83 000$, and there were more than 500 walkers.

The Walk is getting bigger and bigger and the fundraising target will be for 100 000$ next year!

For the third consecutive year, the Alzheimer Society of Montreal will be holding the RONA Memory Walk along with the other 20 Alzheimer Societies across Quebec. This year’s event will be taking place on Sunday, May 31st. In 2008, thousands of people walked in various locations across the province, allowing us to raise a total of $2-million! Visit http://www.lamarchedelamemoire.com/ for more information.

The second annual Silver Screens Arts Festival, presented by Ryerson University's G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, will showcase ‘Aging and Creativity' through film, photography, workshops, guest speakers and theatre. The week-long event is produced in partnership with the LIFE Institute. The festival will kick off with a keynote address by Dr. Gene Cohen, M.D, PhD, Director of the Centre on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. that highlights the biological and emotional foundations of creativity. Additional topics being presented throughout the festival include: Challenging attitudes around dementia, creativity in the second half of life, using words and poetry to keep the mind active, giving back later in life, challenges men face in dealing with prostate cancer, creating a digital self-portrait of your life journey, retirement, and more.

Festival dates

June 1, 2009-June 7, 2009

Location

Ryerson University-see website for details

Price

Free to $20.00 for individual events (pass options available)

For more information visit, www.silverscreens.ca

If you are in the Montreal area and you were not able to catch Forgetful Not Forgotten on television, here's your chance: the documentary film will be screening at Cinema du Parc in Montreal, March 2 and 3 at 7 p.m.

Come join us for this exclusive presentation of the film, and meet filmmaker Chris Wynn.

See all broadcast dates

Forgetful Not Forgotten, an intimate portrait of a family coming to grips with the realities of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, shot by Montreal filmmaker Chris Wynn, airs on TVO at 9:00 p.m. January 11th, 2009. The film, which provided the inspiration for this website, follows the Wynn family from the point where John Wynn is diagnosed with the disease at the relatively young age of 57. Chris chronicles his family's journey to John's final days. An honest, moving, and at times heartbreaking film, Forgetful Not Forgotten weaves past and present to both celebrate the man who was and mourn his painfully slow and steady disappearance.

The film also airs at 10 p.m., January 20th on the Knowledge Network and 9 p.m. February 18th on the Saskatchewan Communications Network.

See all broadcast dates

Get the most out of ForgetfulNotForgotten.com - become a member. By becoming a member, you'll be able to share your experiences as a caregiver or someone whose life has been touched by Alzheimer's disease. You'll also be able to join in discussion groups and comment on articles and content throughout the site. To join the community simply go to the Sharing section and register!