Inside the Quebec town working to become a dementia-friendly community

A Quebec town is taking steps to make everyday life easier for people living with dementia, training local merchants, municipal employees and emergency responders to better understand the condition and adapt their services.

The Town of Brome Lake, about 100 kilometres east of Montreal, is working to become an official dementia-friendly community as part of a broader effort to help people living with neurocognitive disorders remain active and independent.

The Alzheimer Society of Brome-Missisquoi and Haute-Yamaska has received federal funding for a pilot project that aims to make the town more accessible, including at places such as libraries, gas stations, supermarkets and restaurants.

France Proteau, who is managing the project, said the goal is to make sure people with dementia can continue participating in their communities rather than becoming isolated after a diagnosis.

Véronique Brouillette, the local Alzheimer Society’s co-ordinator of psychosocial services and training, said that starts with changing how people think about dementia.

“That person has to live with Alzheimer’s disease, but they still have their own personality, their own values, their own history, so we want to make sure with the dementia-friendly community that all of this is put to the front, to the centre and that the disease takes a back seat,” said Brouillette.

WATCH | A look at the town’s efforts:

Quebec town aims to become fully ‘dementia-friendly community’

Brome Lake, Quebec, is striving to become a fully ‘dementia-friendly community’ by building support into every aspect of daily life—from widespread training and clearer signage to public spaces specifically designed for people with dementia.

Living with dementia

For Pauline Quinlan, whose 84-year-old husband is living with dementia, small changes in the community could make a significant difference.

“Now Patrick needs me more and more. I have to be there pretty much all the time,” said Quinlan.

Her husband remains in good physical shape, she said, but sometimes needs help navigating situations that were once routine, such as ordering at a restaurant.

Brouillette said people living with Alzheimer’s can have difficulty orienting themselves in unfamiliar spaces. In a coffee shop, for example, they may struggle to find the bathroom or an exit.

Even reading a menu can be challenging.

“So why not simplify the menu a little bit with images or simpler words so it’s easier for them to make a choice by themselves,” said Brouillette.

Training people to recognize the signs

The Alzheimer Society plans to provide training that teaches people how to recognize the challenges faced by people with dementia and respond appropriately.

The changes could eventually go beyond staff training. Brouillette said the organization hopes the Town of Brome Lake will introduce clearer signage and design public spaces in ways that make them easier to navigate.

Some local businesses are already taking part.

Jennifer Brodeur, owner of JB Skin Sävvi, said she supports the initiative because she would want to be treated with the same dignity if she developed dementia.

“I think to myself if that were to happen to me, that is how I would want to be perceived, as a contributing member of society,” said Brodeur.

Brouillette said people who receive a dementia diagnosis can sometimes be reluctant to tell their families because they are worried about how others will react.

But the diagnosis does not mean a person has to stop participating in society, she said.

Quinlan said she welcomes a community where people are more informed about dementia and willing to offer help.

“We should be very open about it and be able to understand and welcome the people and give them a hand,” she said.

The initiative is also intended to prepare the town for a growing need. The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates almost 800,000 Canadians are living with dementia, a number it expects to reach one million by 2030.

Cities including Calgary and Waterloo, Ont., have taken similar steps to become dementia-friendly.

Proteau, who is managing the project in Brome Lake, said the hope is that if this pilot project succeeds, the model can eventually be adopted in communities across Quebec.

For Quinlan, that would mean a future in which her husband and others living with dementia can continue to take part in everyday life with a little more understanding and a little less fear.

“To me, I think it’s going to be very important as we continue on with an aging population,” she said.