Thoughts for dementia (t4D)
The Thoughts for Dementia website contents are available here on this page and within the Updates (includes Thoughts for Dementia) page of this website during our transition process. Apologies for any inconvenience you may face in navigating T4D content and thank you for your understanding.
If you are looking for anything specific, please send any queries to
Dr. Kristine Newman at
Kristine.Newman
[at]torontomu[dot]ca
About us
Spare a Thought for Dementia (T4D) raises youth awareness of dementia and how it impacts communities. Founded by Dr. Kristine Newman in 2016 at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Spare a Thought for Dementia aims to inspire youth to become more involved in their communities and become advocates for persons living with dementia. In a post Covid-19 era, we have expanded our vision to include healthcare providers so they may understand the role of young caregivers or youth care partners. Unpaid caregivers including youth care partners are integral to the Canadian Healthcare system. The project consists of an online campaign that shares stories of lived experiences of youth who are care partners for persons with dementia, and an interactive awareness program that educates, challenges, and inspires youth in high school and university to become more involved in the community. We also want to raise awareness of the role of young care partners (or young caregivers) with healthcare providers. This is a Canada-wide collaborative that meets virtually.
Vision
Spare a Thought for Dementia envisions a world where youth are empowered to become care partners and advocates for persons living with dementia with the support of healthcare providers.
Mission
Our mission is to promote awareness and advocate for persons with dementia and their youth care partners by:
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Providing resources and information that contributes to a better understanding of dementia;
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Collaborating and including persons with dementia voice;
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Profiling experiences of youth as care partners of persons living with dementia;
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Profiling intergenerational relationships between youth, care partners, and persons with dementia;
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Encouraging youth to engage with local communities and become advocates;
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Engaging healthcare providers to understand the role of youth as care providers;
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Encouraging youth care providers and healthcare providers to engage with each other;
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Support healthcare providers with resources and information to support youth care providers;
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Supporting local initiatives surrounding dementia care, and;
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Engaging with organizations that contribute towards dementia awareness within the community.
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Our goal is to develop partnerships with communities, schools, and other stakeholders to discuss needs, engagement opportunities, and ways to disseminate knowledge.
Our goal is to develop partnerships with communities, schools, and other stakeholders to discuss needs, engagement opportunities, and ways to disseminate knowledge.
acknowledgement
The Spare a Thought for Dementia Campaign is a project led by the Thoughts for Dementia Collaborative, consisting of researchers from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), care partners including young caregivers, healthcare providers, and advocates in the dementia community. The project is funded in part by Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
Glossary:
Care Partner – it is a term to describe the person or relative such as a daughter, son, spouse, sibling, grandchild, or friend who takes care or helps another person with dementia – essentially they are the caregiver or the carer.
T4D – Thoughts for Dementia
THOUGHTS FOR DEMENTIA COLLABORATIVE TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. Role/Purpose
The role of Thoughts for Dementia (T4D) Collaborative will provide advisory, strategic direction, and leadership to envision a world where youth are empowered to become care partners and advocates for persons living with dementia with the support of healthcare providers. This Canadian virtual based, Thoughts for Dementia Collaborative sets out to promote awareness and advocate for persons with dementia and their youth care partners.
2. Term
This Terms of Reference is effective from May 1, 2021 and will be ongoing until terminated by agreement between the T4D Collaborative members. The Terms of Reference will be reviewed once a year in September (1st meeting back from Summer break) by the T4D Collaborative.
3. Membership
The Collaborative Group will comprise of researchers, care partners including young caregivers, healthcare providers, and advocates in the dementia community. Dr. Kristine Newman is the lead and a member of T4D Collaborative will be nominated to assist with website and social media.
4. Roles and Responsibilities
This is an advisory group:
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fosters collaboration
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that each member will be provided with complete, accurate and meaningful information in a timely manner
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to be given reasonable time to make key decisions
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to be alerted to potential risks and issues that could impact the project, as they arise
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open and honest discussions, without resort to any misleading assertions
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ongoing ‘health checks’ to verify the overall status and ‘health’ of the collaboration.
our team
Dr. Kristine Newman obtained her Bachelor of Nursing Science (2003) and Master of Science in Nursing (2005) from Queen’s University. Dr. Newman completed her PhD in Nursing Science (2012) from the University of Toronto and a Knowledge Translation Canada: Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2013) at McMaster University. Dr. Newman’s program of research relates to Knowledge translation – health evidence; Gerotechnology; Dementia awareness and intergenerational relations, Young Caregivers & their Families, and Formal & Informal Caregivers. She is a founding member of the World Young Leaders of Dementia (WYLD).
Dr. Kristine Newman
Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
Karen Johnson is the Director of McCormick Dementia Services, which is the largest adult day program specializing in dementia care, in the province of Ontario, Canada. Karen is a registered Social Worker, with both her Masters and Bachelor of Social Work degrees, and she has several years of experience working with the older adult population—both in long term care homes, hospital, and also in the community. Karen’s particular professional passion lies in working with those who have dementia, as well as supporting formal and informal caregivers.
Karen Johnson
McCormick Dementia Services
Michelle Lewis began her career as a Teacher and Instructional Coach in alternative education private schools for at-risk youth. This gave her a wealth of experience with meeting Ministry requirements and coaching others on compliance which opened the opportunity to provide consulting services for private schools in need of compliance and quality improvement . When the opportunity came to lead a grass-roots non-profit as the Executive Director, she met her calling. Growing up in a small, rural town, she experienced what little supports and awareness existed for children, youth and families in need.
Website: https://youngcaregivers.ca/
Michelle Lewis
Young Caregivers Association
Dr. Marie Savundranayagam is an associate professor in Health Studies at Western University. She is also the director of the Sam Katz Community Health and Aging Research Unit. Dr. Savundranayagam conducts research that has an impact on how we care for older adults living with dementia and their care partners, both family and formal care partners. She is committed to conducting research that has an impact on health care practice and policy. Within family care, her research is on enhancing our understanding of the contributors of stress and depression among family care partners. Her research uses that knowledge to develop, implement, and assess interventions that enrich their care experiences.
Marie Y. Savundranayagam
Western University
Maggie MacLellan is the Communications Specialist for Western University’s BrainsCAN initiative in London, Ontario. In this role, she works with neuroscientists to promote research findings on brain diseases and disorders including Alzheimer’s Disease. Maggie also has direct experience with dementia. At the age of 27, she became a young caregiver when her mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Maggie has shared her experience with the disease by conducting a number of community talks, and has volunteered with the Alzheimer Society London and Middlesex to assist other young caregivers.
Maggie MacLellan
Western University
Ron Beleno
Collaborative Member
Susan Bookey-Bassett
Toronto Metropolitan University
Collaborative Member
Cayleigh Sexton
Young Caregivers Association
Collaborative Member
resources
get involved
interested in being involved?
Spare a Thought for Dementia envisions a world where youth are empowered to become care partners and advocates for persons living with dementia.
Find out how you can get involved with Spare a Thought for Dementia in your local community by contacting Dr. Kristine Newman at Kristine.Newman[at]torontomu[dot]ca
resources
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Dementia-Friendly Communities: Youth can get involved through the ‘community member’ section
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Interactive Training Videos: Dementia-Friendly Communities training from the Alzheimer Society of Toronto
Links
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Alzheimer Society of Canada - Link to website
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Alzheimer Society of Ontario - Link to website
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Local Health Integration Network - Link to website
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Canadian Mental Health Association - Link to website
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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health - Link to website
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City of Toronto (Mental/Emotional Health Services) - Link to website
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Stella's Place - Link to website
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Ryerson SMASH (Students for Mental Awareness, Support & Health) - Link to website
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Mindfest - Link to website