Through the help of the Nova Scotia Age Friendly Communities Program, Person Centred Universe, in partnership with The Halifax Chamber of Commerce we are proud to announce the second installment of the Dementia Friendly Business Ambassador program. This was made possible through the participation and feedback of businesses and ambassadors in the Halifax area with our pilot project. We have now been able to take that information and have created three streamlined half-day courses to better suit the needs of organizations looking to better serve individuals who are living with dementia. 
 
Participants will have an opportunity to choose between our three streams: Dementia Friendly Ambassador: Community and Service Based Organizations, Dementia Friendly Ambassador: Hospitality, and Dementia Friendly Ambassador: Retail; to choose the offering that best suits their organizational needs. If applicable, participants are welcome to participate in any or all streams if they so choose. 
 
In these half-day sessions, ambassadors will have the opportunity to explore topics such as: providing dementia-friendly service, creating supportive environments and atmospheres, and general knowledge on dementia and best practices for their sector; which build off of the fundamentals acquired within the pilot program. The interactive nature of these online sessions will allow participants to learn and grow with other members of their field of business through sector-specific examples and information.

SECTOR SPECIFIC WORKSHOP:
COMMUNITY AND SERVICE BASED ORGANIZATIONS

Organizations that serve our communities have a great opportunity to create a positive impact on individuals who are living with dementia.

Their work directly affects these individuals’ ability to complete activities of daily living and in turn, remain in their homes for longer periods of time.

This group will have a large focus on finding ways to better serve individuals who are living with dementia, identify possible challenges and learn to problem-solve to turn these challenges into solutions.

Organizations will get an individualized approach to their company’s needs, such as healthcare factors, and information on financial abuse for financial institutions or other sector-specific scenarios which may arise.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER SECTOR SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS:

NOVEMBER 17th:
COMMUNITY AND SERVICE BASED ORGANIZATIONS - REGISTER HERE!

NOVEMBER 24TH:
RETAIL BASED ORGANIZATIONS- REGISTER HERE!

PRESENTERS:

ASHLEY KING, CO-FOUNDER, PERSON CENTRED UNIVERSE                                          

Ashley first became interested in the field of aging as she was providing care for her grandmother at home. As a member of the healthcare sector and as well an entrepreneur, she strongly advocates for person centred and holistic approaches in the aging-care field. Ashley has experience in both the community health and long term care sectors, and as such, has developed a love of educating and empowering people to develop and lead in their own scope of practice. She has learned, practiced, and taught the benefits of a therapeutic approach to care and has helped to develop resources on holistic practices to promote wellbeing and engagement in long term care.

She has developed a number of training programs on the use of individualized music in care, Snoezelen Room, Dementia Care Mapping, the use of Music in Narrative, and the benefits of using a Therapeutic Recreation model in care. As a complement to her undergraduate degree in Gerontology from St. Thomas University, Ashley has instructed the Therapeutic Activity Professionals' Course. She also holds a certificate from the NCCDP in Dementia Care Practitioning, is an educator of the Dementia: Understanding the Journey curriculum, and, most notably, has obtained a Dementia Care Mapping Certification from Bradford University in the UK.

RACHEL NEAL, PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, PERSON CENTRED UNIVERSE 

Rachel is a dedicated individual who takes great pride in providing compassionate care for the aging community. Caring for her grandparents first ignited her desire to pursue a career in the field of gerontology and to working with older adults living with Alzheimer's and dementia.

In addition to obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Gerontology from St. Thomas University, she has obtained a certificate from the University of Graz in Austria in a seminar on Aging and the Life Course. Rachel has worked in several roles within regional care facilities and after graduation as an activity coordinator in an adult day program as well as in an assisted living facility in the Fredericton area. Rachel has been with Person Centred Universe since 2017 working as the Programs Coordinator.

She is currently taking a Masters of Science in Dementia Studies from the University of Stirling and a graduate program for Health Communication and Aging from Mount Saint Vincent University to further expand her learning within the aging sector. Rachel sees the growing need for enhanced services within this field and is passionate about being a part of the effort to provide services that greater meet the needs of older adults in our community.

DAPHNE NOONAN, CO-FOUNDER, PERSON CENTRED UNIVERSE                                          

Daphne is extremely passionate about working in the field of aging and more specifically in contributing to the process of enabling older adults to grow old with dignity and honor.

Having worked in the long-term care field and specializing in Therapeutic Recreation since 2003, Daphne has developed knowledge and skills on how to research, develop, implement, and evaluate initiatives to enhance Person Centred care.

She has provided frequent leadership to long-term care homes and community agencies throughout New Brunswick and beyond on the topic of Narrative Care and other holistically-focused programs. Daphne has developed a deep passion for issues related to dementia, and has harnessed this interest through her involvement in the Alzheimer's Society Federation in Canada, both at the national and provincial level.

In addition, she has recently complimented her knowledge base in dementia care through training in Dementia Care Mapping at Bradford University in the UK. She hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Gerontology, a diploma in Health Sciences specializing in Therapeutic Recreation, as well as a Masters Degree in Adult Education.