Keeping track of time by watching the ferries come and go from their home in Victoria, Joe Ross and Amy Cameron explain that they now “function as a pair.”
This shift is quite different from their earlier working lives, where they both travelled extensively for different jobs. This new mindset has evolved after 30 years of friendship, almost a decade of marriage, and a move from Europe to Vancouver Island as a result of Amy’s diagnosis of young-onset Alzheimer’s disease in her 50s.
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, an opportunity for people to have conversations about dementia. The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is recognizing Alzheimer’s Awareness Month by sharing the experiences of people like Joe and Amy Ross, who have found meaning, connection and joy after a dementia diagnosis, in part by connecting with the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
Together, Joe and Amy navigate their journey with the support of a community of people affected by dementia — connections they first made while participating in the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s Shaping the journey education series. Designed for people experiencing early symptoms of dementia and their care partners, they enrolled in this program soon after Amy’s diagnosis.
For Amy, being introduced to this community helped her come to terms with a diagnosis that she initially felt was “devastating.”
“That took a while to sink in, but I soon realized the diagnosis was not as debilitating as I first thought,” Amy says. “You realize you’re not on your own and that you’re not the only one.”
Joe and Amy remain focused on that shared journey as they look ahead to the future. They attend symphonies and live music performances when they can, take walks, try to motivate each other to go to the pool, take part in weekly Zoom calls with their families and watch the ferries – cherishing the moments they can spend together.
Take part
In January, caregivers and people living with dementia will explore this year’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Month theme by sharing their unique journeys living with the disease in two virtual panel discussions. Participants will learn how the Alzheimer Society of B.C. listened to families' needs and guided them to programs, resources and education that were right for them.
Learn how finding a guide can help you to continue to find joy, meaning and connection, no matter where you are on the journey.
- Lived experience: Different roadmaps for dementia on Jan. 15 from 2 to 30 p.m. PT
- Lived experience: Different roadmaps for caregiving on Jan. 22 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. PT.
Find support
If you have questions about Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, call the Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s First Link® Dementia Helpline for information and support (toll-free in B.C. only):
- English: 1-800-936-6033 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Cantonese and Mandarin: 1-833-674-5007 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu: 1-833-674-5003 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)