HUB PARTNERS' PROJECTS
Dementia Ventures is a commitment by the Westside Seniors Hub Partner Organizations to offer diverse activities for people living with dementia and their care partners. These activities are designed to:
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reduce stigma
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sustain quality of life
The projects listed below are partially funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada via the Building Capacity for Meaningful Participation by People Living with Dementia umbrella project. Current Hub Partner project planning began in early 2020 and is evolving all the time!
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
2019-2023
Hub Partners want to foster more inclusive communities. They engage a wide range of community members in plans and conversations to build and change programs so they are more inclusive of people living with dementia.
Partners worked on projects to achieve those objectives, and for some, the projects are ongoing.
Translink Awareness-Building Placards
Thanks to an Implementation Fund grant from the Building Capacity for Meaningful Participation by People Living with Dementia project, the Hub’s Council placed 210 awareness-building placards inside TransLink buses in Metro Vancouver during the summer of 2022. The three different designs developed by Building Capacity project team members Samantha Pineda Sierra and Heather Neale Furneaux, quote Action Committee members with lived experience from a special initiative known as The Flipping Stigma Project.
These members’ comments reflect on what it feels like to be discriminated against because of their dementia. The campaign aimed to increase awareness and encourage open and respectful conversations about living with dementia.
Even if you don’t travel on public buses, you will want to take a look HERE at these engaging placards. Occasionally you will still see a placard on a Translink bus!
Kitsilano Community Centre Association
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offers a variety of physical, social, and multicultural programming
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sponsored two Memory Cafés in October aimed at gathering programming needs and ideas from people experiencing dementia and care partners
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An insightful report summarized responses and diverse strategies for next steps in programming. steps forward
West Point Grey United Church
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TLC (The Lunch Club) is a program for seniors as well as people with living with dementia in the west side of Vancouver. In 2022-2023, vveryone participated in a bilingual (English & Cantonese) four-part series about dementia and in group discussions.
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Congregation members at Pacific Spirit United Church created an insightful four-part series looking at dementia from a community perspective. It's called Beacon *shining light on Dementia" that is available online here.
DISCOVERING COMMUNITY ASSETS
2019-2023
The Building Capacity Project - Dementia Ventures
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Offers engaging programs in order to help organizations make existing offerings more inclusive.
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Informs future policies and priorities in community and health settings for dementia inclusive communities.
Westside Seniors Hub - Transportation Initiative
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Explored and facilitate van-sharing and public transit challenges and solutions for seniors living with dementia.
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Trnaslink placards featuring quotes from people living with dementia intended to raise awareness about stigma
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Developed a website to showcase Partners' projects and opportunities to get involved
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Invited diverse community members to become involved
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Collaborated with UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning students involved as Community Action Mobilizers to conduct asset-mapping of Vancouver's westside neighbourhoods and promote community resilience planning for shocks & stressors
ONGOING PROGRAMS
2020-2025
Hub Partners adapted existing programs to be more inclusive and planning new programs.They appreciated having community members participate at every stage - planning, implementing and sustaining - to build community capacity.
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develops meaningful activities & designs inclusive spaces
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purchases art supplies to diversify programs
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identified assets & gaps in services for seniors
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adapted Salmonberry Days for inclusive programming
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organized Fireweed Club for outdoor activities in Balaclava Park, including development of a pollinator garden that invites participation throughout the gardening season.
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promotes dementia awareness with staff and required volunteer and staff trainings for anyone working with older adults
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developed a Dementia Buddies for one-on-one participation in meaningful activities