A number of Southwest locations are preparing to participate in the annual Alzheimer Coffee Break Day on Sept. 20.
This annual initiative by the Alzheimer Society of Canada invites people to make their coffee count by making a donation in support of an Alzheimer Coffee Break. The event has raised millions of dollars nation-wide to support the work that local Alzheimer Societies provide to people who have dementia, their families, caregivers and communities. All donations support the Alzheimer Society who provides help to the people in Saskatchewan that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and hope for better treatments, and one day, a cure.
In Swift Current, there are a trio of confirmed events. Swift Current’s public Alzheimer Coffee Break occurs at the entrance to Canada Safeway in the Swift Current Mall from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Senior Citizens Activity Centre is hosting an event with a guest speaker from 10 a.m. to noon. Also, the Royal Canadian Legion Swift Current Branch #56 is hosting a Coffee Break in their lounge from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
In 2010, more than 500,000 Canadians were living with dementia. Of these, approximately 71,000 are under the age of 65. It is estimated that one in 11 Canadians over 65 has dementia. Within a generation, the numbers of Canadians living with dementia will more than double to 1.1 million.
In 2010, there were over 110,000 new cases of dementia a year, or one new case every five minutes. Within a generation, there will be over 250,000 new cases a year, or one new case every two minutes. Over the next 25 years, without a medical breakthrough, more than four million Canadians will have developed Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.
