Community Spotlight

Each month, we profile a special member of our community: a student, alumni, faculty member, or partner. Check out this month’s inspiring story below!

This Spotlight focuses on two Trailblazer Award recipients for 2024

Explore the achievements of these 2024 Trailblazer Award recipients. Scroll down to learn about their contributions to healthcare innovation, gain insights through our focused Q&A sessions and discover why they are CHA Learning’s Community Spotlight for April 2024.

Learn more from Kim

As a Trailblazer recipient, how do you feel your work and this project has impacted the community or sector you serve?

This work represents the incredible efforts of many amazing people at Sherbrooke Community Centre. Creating an intergenerational classroom was the brainchild of our former Communications Leader, Patricia Roe, who had a dream that one day we would have a “one room school” at Sherbrooke.  Keri Albert, Lead Teacher, shared that dream and with the support and guidance of Sherbrooke staff and an incredible advisory team of leaders and educators, iGen was created and launched in 2014. Over 250 students have attended iGen since its inception.

Meaningful connections and friendships that span generations have contributed to increased wellbeing for the elders, students and staff involved in iGen and our entire community! Elders involved with the iGen class find purpose, meaning and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Elders have the opportunity to mentor students, while students gain confidence and learn life lessons such as the importance of respect, reciprocity and generosity of spirit.  Our teacher Keri calls iGen “the school of real life”! The relationships between the students and Elders make life richer through the joyful, unpredictable moments that happen when you bring generations together.

How do you see your field evolving in the next few years, and what role do you hope to play in that evolution?

I see long-term care evolving to be more person-directed, moving away from the institutional, medical model that it was based on. Human beings thrive in a healthy diverse community, often referred to as a Human Habitat in the Eden Alternative philosophy. I believe that my role as CEO is to support our staff to continue to create the healthiest, most vibrant community possible. Dr. Thomas, founder of the Eden Alternative, says that we are “world makers” in long-term care. So we need to ask ourselves – is the world we have created interesting, meaningful, and diverse enough? The most important things I can do as a leader are to provide clarity about what we are trying to achieve, and then ensure the conditions of empowerment are in place for staff. Our staff are brilliant and creative, and when we set them free to do the work that they aspire to do, magic happens.

 How do you stay motivated and continue to innovate in your field?

In my thirtieth year at Sherbrooke, I continue to be motivated and energized by the Elders who live here and the staff who work here. Their resilience, desire to grow, and find meaning in community inspires me every day. At Sherbrooke, we have a saying that we “lay the path as we walk it”. I think this is so important in terms of creating an environment where innovation thrives. Listening to ideas with the intent of “how can we make this happen?’, without knowing all the nuts and bolts of the implementation, but with a real desire to improve and make life better for the people who live, work, learn, volunteer and visit here is crucial.

What advice would you give to either an individual or team aspiring to undertake a similar initiative?

Be open to ideas, listen carefully, ask questions and be curious. You may not have all of the answers at first, but be open to possibility and have confidence that the right people and resources will materialize at the right time. Shift to a mindset of abundance!

Learn more from Mary Beth and Dawn

As a Trailblazer recipient, how do you feel your work and this project has impacted the community or sector you serve?

Over the years, we have deeply immersed ourselves in the dementia space, collaborating with a diverse range of individuals, organizations, researchers, and policy makers and sharing our own perspectives. We are bringing true experience to the table – being open about our journey and welcoming people into the most personal aspects of our lives.

Our lived experiences serve as a powerful catalyst for positive transformation. By imparting firsthand knowledge, we have inspired our communities to adopt more sensitive, culturally attuned, and diverse approaches towards supporting individuals living with dementia and their care partners.

Currently, we proudly serve as Lived Experience Facilitators with Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO). In this capacity, we actively challenge traditional perceptions of dementia, striving to dismantle stereotypes and foster a more inclusive understanding of the condition. Our role allows us to provide invaluable input that directly shapes the development of services and supports for individuals and families affected by dementia. By including people with lived experience, we get to drive meaningful change within the system.

How do you see your field evolving in the next few years, and what role do you hope to play in that evolution?

Currently there remains a focus on finding a cure for various causes of dementia. Instead, we believe there needs to be a greater focus on helping people with dementia and their care partners to live well and as fully as possible throughout the journey. We also believe a biomedical understanding of dementia continues to perpetuate misunderstanding and stigma and a new way of understanding of dementia is needed – one that moves us AWAY FROM deficit, decline, BPSD (behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia), and stages, and TOWARDS an understanding that is focused on understanding the lived experience for each person touched by dementia, on strengths and well-being. Each one of us diagnosed with dementia will experience our condition differently and that needs to be recognized. We need to prioritize the concept of personhood, emphasizing the inherent dignity, autonomy, and uniqueness of each individual living with dementia.

There’s a growing expectation for lived experience to directly inform both practice and research endeavors. This integration ensures that interventions and studies are grounded in the realities faced by individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. People with lived experience provide vital information that can enhance both practice and research within the field. Our firsthand insights provide invaluable perspectives that shape interventions, policies, and support services.

Stronger awareness of human rights in dementia care is crucial, with dementia being viewed as a disability rather than solely a mental health condition. Advocacy efforts should focus on ensuring that individuals living with dementia receive equitable treatment and support.

Lastly, increased dialogue about end-of-life care is necessary, including discussions on dignified dying. Initiating conversations about what constitutes dignified dying and ensuring that preferences are respected are essential aspects of comprehensive dementia care and support.

How do you stay motivated and continue to innovate in your field?

We find motivation in reading about the experiences of others living with dementia and witnessing how they navigate challenges, create change, and overcome obstacles. Seeing the impact that individuals with lived experience can have, inspires us to continue pushing boundaries and advocating for meaningful improvements in dementia care.

Our motivation is also sustained through the partnerships we have with individuals and organizations who share our vision for a better understanding of dementia and a focus on promoting living well. Working together with like-minded partners allows us to pool our strengths, resources, and expertise towards common goals, fostering innovation and progress in our field.

Our mutual commitment to each other’s well-being and shared goals serves as a powerful source of motivation. For example, Dawn’s determination to ensure I (Mary Beth) live well and her commitment to helping other care partners in similar situations, is what motivates her to share her experiences and insights. Similarly, I (Mary Beth) am motivated by others who are living with a diagnosis, but also the support and encouragement of allies who champion human rights and share a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by dementia. This mutual support system keeps us focused, energized, and committed to our mission, propelling us forward in our efforts to drive innovation and positive change in the field of dementia care.

What advice would you give to either an individual or team aspiring to undertake a similar initiative?

For those wishing to make a difference in the lives of people living with dementia and their care partners, this is the advice we would offer:

Follow your hearts and challenge stigma – It is essential to follow your intuition and passion, even if it means challenging your own preconceptions and beliefs. By being open to examining and confronting stigmas surrounding dementia, you can clarify your mission and find a path forward that aligns with your values. Embracing this journey with an open mind can lead to exciting opportunities for growth and innovation.

Recognize and include lived experience roles – Over the years we have worked with several wonderful people and organizations that formally acknowledged the invaluable contributions of people living with dementia and their care partners. Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) serves as one exemplary example. We also work closely with a senior living leader, Jessica Luh Kim, who actively involves us as a true partner in her efforts to revolutionize dementia services and supports. Additionally, we have been invited and actively engaged in various government round tables and research initiatives that are focused on enhancing the lives of people living with dementia and care partners.

When individuals living with dementia and their care partners are afforded formal roles that are not only valued but also compensated for, it goes beyond mere recognition; it signifies a profound acknowledgment of their expertise and insights. This inclusive approach not only amplifies our voices but also fosters meaningful participation in decision-making processes. Aspiring initiatives should advocate for similar recognition and inclusion, advocating for spaces where those directly impacted by dementia can contribute, be heard, and ultimately empower change. By working together, that’s when real change can happen and thrive.