Continuing Education Workshop - Renewing Driver’s License for Seniors

Who: For Family and Friend Caregivers and Seniors
When: Wednesday, June 30, 10:00-11:30am
Where: Online
Speaker: Tom Webster (Road Safety & Community Coordinator)

Invitation link will be provided upon RSVP by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 604-375-5778.

 

 

 

Dementia-friendly Outdoor Spaces Research

A Ph.D. student at Simon Fraser University is conducting a study to understand how people living at home with dementia experience outdoor spaces while walking outside in the neighbourhood. The student is particularly interested in exploring how understanding the lived experiences of people with dementia can help city planners make outdoor spaces more dementia-friendly and inclusive. This project is funded by the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

Please take a look at the study poster below to learn more about the study. His contact information is provided in the poster, so please contact him with your questions about the study and its requirements, and how you can participate in the study.

 

A Poem to Share: The New Dementians

Creative expressions such as music and poetry help us cope with and manage through the shifts of this global pandemic. At BSOSS, our community programs continue through Zoom, offering opportunities to come together to learn and share with one another. In recent weeks one of our program participants felt inspired to write down his thoughts and feelings about some of the shifts, and he created this beautiful poem titled 'The New Dementians', which we have the honour and consent to share with our wider communities.

Jennyfer Hatch
Artistic Director
The New Dementians and Music Therapist with BSOSS

 

The New Dementians

The 2019 Dementia Friendly Café laid the foundation.  
The monthly popular activity sparked the inspiration.

During the café Jennyfer led us to joyful singing.
With the beat our bodies couldn’t help swinging.

Dorothy joined force with her and two heads were better than one.
A brilliant idea of creating a special choir for us was quickly done.

The pioneer project was so outstanding in so many ways.
Necessary funding was smoothly secured in a few days.

The putting together of the choir itself was not too hard.
We were not good singers but we all wanted to take part.

Our first rehearsal happened at the end of November.
It was so successful that we would forever remember.

We chatted, snacked and then sang our songs.
We immediately found a place where we belong.

We frequently shared our gladness.
We occasionally shared our sadness.

Unfortunately in March 2020 the pandemic hit.
The whole world seemed to fall into a deep pit.

Dorothy and Jennyfer tried hard to put us on virtual meetings.
That was the only new normal option to continue our greetings.

Now we can still reach out.
That is all a family is about.

We connect through our songs
It helps all of us to stay strong.

Though we are far apart
We can share our hearts.

Later in the year, for her family, Dorothy quit.
Faryar stepped up and proved to be a good fit.

In 2021, vaccination started at the beginning of the year.
We all hope that a return to normal process is put in gear.

One day when we can in person meet again,
We will see sunshine after the miserable rain.

When we chat, sing and bite on a snack,
Our intimate bonds will surely come back.

 

Vaccination Transportation Support

TransLink is continuing to work with Vancouver Coastal Health to provide transportation support when and where requested. Wherever you are in Metro Vancouver, Translink's services remain a great option to move you safely and quickly to the vaccination site in your area.  For more information please view here.

If you have any further questions or if your group is experiencing difficulties or just needs a hand in applying for the program, please let Faryar (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 604-375-5778) or Dave Lewin (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) know.

Contact Chris Chan (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for any of your Access to transit travel training needs.

 

Burnaby Seniors Outreach Services Society presents

Dementia Friendly Cafe

An online gathering of community - for seniors, those with memory loss, and their family and friend caregivers.

Date and Time: 2nd Thursday of Each Month, 1:00-2:30pm
Place: Virtual (using Zoom virtual meeting application)
(Invitation link provided upon registration with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 604-375-5778)

Participants engage in socializing and facilitated discussion on topics led by guest speakers and a certified music therapist.