"We’re here to make the journey better," says Michelle Martin of the Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington. With a new accessible location opening soon in Kitchener, the organization continues expanding its reach—and its impact.
In 2025, there are still many social stigmas and misconceptions about people living with dementia. Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington is seeking to change that, while supporting individuals with dementia and their care partners.
“We try to make it really easy for people, because we know how difficult it is to reach out and ask for support, says Michelle Martin, CEO of Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington.
The not-for-profit provides a variety of free services to individuals on their dementia journey, but a dementia diagnosis is not required. They can support anyone living with cognitive impairment, as well as their care partners and healthcare professionals who support them. Support services are available online, over the phone, and in person.
Michelle says that their organization takes a three-pronged approach, starting with education. The staff at Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington help family members with what to expect from their loved one’s diagnosis, and how to best communicate with and support them. They also provide thorough education on dementia to other health service providers, guiding them on how to best support someone who is living with dementia, whether it’s in a hospital, a community, or long-term care. This also helps reduce stigma. “Knowledge is power,” says Michelle. “And when we share that knowledge, it brings comfort, confidence, and hope to families facing dementia.”
The second prong is support. They have a team of highly skilled registered social workers who can provide one-on-one counselling to the person with the cognitive impairment, as well as the care partner. They also have support groups run by registered social workers, where people can share with each other what has worked or not worked on their caregiving journey.
The third prong is fun. Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington provides many therapeutic recreational opportunities, like trivia, exercise classes and art. Michelle emphasizes the importance of engaging in conversation and having a social circle for people living with dementia. “Spending time with others and sharing a laugh is one of the best things you can do for your brain,” she says.
With World Alzheimer’s Day coming up on September 21st, Michelle wants everyone to know that there are still too many false beliefs about the disease. Stigma is one of the organization’s biggest challenges in supporting people living with dementia. Their goal is to provide education and support, so that people don’t have as much fear and confusion about it. Her advice? Don’t trust Dr. Google if you or a loved one has been diagnosed— visit the Alzheimer Society’s website or reach out for accurate information and support from real people.
People sometimes jump to conclusions and think that the journey of living with dementia is only challenging— often thinking of the very late stages of the disease. “Dementia is a very long journey,” says Michelle. “And it can be a meaningful one, filled with moments of connection, love, and dignity for the person living with dementia.”
The more Alzheimer Society can support individuals and their families, the better that journey will be for all of them. “There are many ways to improve quality of life,” says Michelle. “People living with dementia have so much to offer people around them.”
Care partners are urged to reach out to Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington, for their own benefit as well. Being a care partner is a difficult task that can cause high levels of stress. On average, those who are caring for a person living with dementia provide 26 hours of unpaid work per week. This is compared with other chronic diseases, which average about 21 hours of unpaid caregiving work per week.
Whether it is being with others in the same situation by participating in programming with your peers, or having a couple hours to yourself by dropping off your loved one in a safe space like Alzheimer Society, these actions can keep you going and prevent burnout. “We want to inspire resilience, coping and hope,” says Michelle.
When faced with the dementia diagnosis of a family member, friend, or loved one, reaching out to Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington can be a relief. Even for those who don’t feel ready, or don’t want social work services or counselling, Michelle says that the organization is here to provide advice and answer questions. “It’s easy, it’s a supportive service and there’s no cost. We’re here to help make the journey better.”
For those currently accessing Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington’s services or are interested in doing so, the organization’s Kitchener office is moving in November, to a new location at 82 Wilson Ave, Kitchener. This new space is fully accessible and will allow for additional social recreational programming on site.
Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington is a non-profit providing all their services to the community free of charge. They have to fundraise nearly half of their yearly budget to do so.
To learn more about the organization or to donate, visit them online here.
