Welcome to the Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) for family and friend caregivers of persons living with dementia. You are not alone!
Offering education and support for caregivers to deliver meaningful activities with persons living with dementia.
Our Research
We are a group of researchers and clinicians collaborating with persons with lived experience to build a national Virtual Community of Practice to enhance the quality of life, skills, and confidence of caregivers in engaging persons living with dementia in social and stimulating activities. The Community of Practice includes online resources and group meetings. We will be exploring Namaste Care through this community of practice. This research is funded by the Alzheimer Society of Canada, Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA), and the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF).
Virtual Community of Practice Components
-
User-Friendly Website
-
Online Resources
-
Virtual Namaste Care Training and Support
-
Bi-Weekly Virtual Discussion Forums
Namaste Care
A multisensory program focused on meaningful engagement of persons living with dementia and caregivers. It targets the quality of life of people with dementia by stimulating the five basic senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Namaste Care provides practical skills for families and friends of persons living with dementia.
Resources
Information for caregivers who are supporting persons living with dementia at home or in long-term care. Resources will be periodically updated.
“I draw her [mom’s] attention to the different flavors that she is drinking. We often have carbonated water, but it’s got a flavor in it...[creating shapes with] the Play-Doh also felt really good for her...Namaste Care got me expanded to think beyond just what sort of colouring can we do.”
— Caregiver research participant
Meet the Researchers
-
Marie-Lee Yous, RN, PhD
Assistant Professor and Investigator at McMaster University
-
Sharon Kaasalainen, RN, PhD
Professor and Investigator at McMaster University
-
Carrie McAiney, PhD
Associate Professor and Investigator at the University of Waterloo
-
Ruthie Zhuang, BMSc
Research Assistant and Medical Student at McMaster University