Welcome to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal Blog!

Edition #10

August 2021

Author :

DENIS RICHARD

Son of Henri Richard, the “Pocket Rocket”

To find out more about the Hector “Toe” Blake Celebrity Golf Tournament presented by Raymond James Ltd., cliCK HERE. 

Discover the stories of the Montreal Canadiens Legends who also deal with Alzheimer’s disease or another neurocognitive disorder.

Everyone knows my father. He won 11 Stanley Cups as a player and as the captain of the Montreal Canadiens. Does the name Henri Richard, the “Pocket Rocket” ring a bell?

Now, my father does not remember a thing. He doesn’t even recognize me.

My father tried to ignore the symptoms of the disease when they first appeared. He had always been a true fighter and nothing scared him when he jumped on the ice. Unfortunately, being fearless isn’t enough when faced with Alzheimer’s disease.

This terrible journey started with some unusual actions and sudden anxiety attacks. These were not a regular occurrence, but they began to happen more and more often. Eventually, my mother realized that my father was forgetting all sorts of things.

My father was not a big talker and he did not really show his emotions. One day, my mother found him alone in tears because he was becoming aware of what was happening to him. Little by little, he lost everything: his driver’s license, his personality, his autonomy, his love and his memory.

My parents have known each other since the age of 6. It was very painful for my mother when it became clear that my father would have to leave the house for good. Much more than spouses, they were best friends and life-long companions.

My father does remember us sometimes for a split second. But these short moments aren’t enough to sooth our broken hearts. Fortunately for us, his personality and achievements survive in your memories as well as ours.

My father’s story is one of many. Help us build hope for the hundreds of thousands of Canadians affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

This is why your donations to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal are so important. They allow the Society to offer high quality services to people living with neurocognitive disorders and their caregivers through a person-centred approach. Thanks to you, over 33,000 Montrealers living with dementia and their caregivers will have the opportunity to access support in their journey.

Support us today so that we can offer help to families affected by this terrible disease.

Sincerely yours,

Denis Richard

P.S. Your donation helps to build hope for those who don’t even remember what it means.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS BLOG POST!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us by email:[email protected]

Welcome to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal Blog!

Edition #6

September 2019

Author:

Marie-Soleil Blanchet

Art Therapist, M.A.

To find out more about the art therapy workshops offered at the Alzheimer Society of Montreal, consult the “I live with Alzheimer’s” section of the website.

We can all sketch or assemble a collage at home, but several important factors come to light when art is brought into a therapeutic context— the secure framework, the clinical objectives, the therapeutic relationship and the bonds that are formed. Art therapy is an avenue of self-expression that is accessible to a wide range of clienteles, including people living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia.

I have observed first hand its benefits among our clients. First and foremost, the act of creation calls upon an individual’s strengths and abilities in a context of dialogue and trust. This creates a space in which each person can enjoy positive experiences and opportunities to succeed, which, in turn, give rise to feelings of pride and contentment. The creative process also stimulates the participant’s neurological, cognitive, emotional, psychomotor, and relational capacities. Art therapists evaluate the needs and abilities of each client and adjust their interventions to optimize their therapeutic experience. What’s more, they do so while instilling an environment that is free from judgement. What does this mean? In short, it means establishing a creative space that is warm and welcoming, whatever emotion the client expresses, because sadness, enthusiasm and anger are just as important as each other. This mindset allows the art therapist to welcome a client in their entirety. In this space, there are no expectations either towards oneself or artistic creation because we value the individual’s experience just as much at the work produced. In other words, no judgement or aesthetical analysis is added to the result, but rather a curious and welcoming appraisal of what the person has expressed.

At the Alzheimer Society of Montreal, we advocate a person-centred approach to care. We adapt our interventions to each individual client according to what they are experiencing in the present moment and their personal histories. Indeed, the life stories of each participant can provide useful clues for the development of projects and materials that could awaken not only a client’s interest, expertise and full potential, but also their feelings and meaning for them in the present moment. For exemple, a participant who was an architect may find satisfaction in building or designing gemoetric structures. In art, the possiblities are as diverse as the colours in our palette!

In a group setting, art therapy at the Alzheimer Society of Montreal can be a form of support— a way of expressing oneself in a safe, free, and authentic environment. Remember, it is not necessary to verbalize or understand the symbolism or meaning behind an image for the experience to be a positive one. When our clients express themselves through a drawing, collage, or painting—even if they cannot do so with words— they can feel relief, listened to, seen and heard, which are essential needs for any person.

How do you know whether or not art therapy is for you? Try it and see for yourself!

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We hope you enjoyed this blog post!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us by email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal Blog!

Edition #5

August 2019

Author :

Gabriel Flores

Investment Advisor

Preserving and growing your wealth may involve implementing tax, investment and estate planning strategies that suit your circumstances and goals. While some strategies are available throughout your lifetime, others are only available in the year you turn age 65 and beyond. This article discusses financial planning considerations for seniors and offers an overview of commonly used strategies.

Income splitting

• Pension income splitting: If your spouse has a lower marginal tax rate, consider splitting eligible pension income with them to reduce your family’s overall tax bill. Eligible pension income includes, but is not limited to, life annuity payments from a pension plan and, when you’re 65 years or older, it also includes withdrawals from your RRIF, LIF, RLIF, LRIF and Prescribed RRIF accounts. Withdrawals from your RRSP are not considered eligible pension income. Generally, you can allocate up to 50% of your eligible pension income to your spouse. Please note that you must be age 65 or older in order to split eligible pension income for Quebec tax purposes.
• Spousal RRSP contribution: If you expect your retirement income to be higher than that of your spouse, consider making contributions to a spousal RRSP. If you have unused RRSP contribution room and your spouse is not yet age 71, you can continue to make spousal RRSP contributions even if youare over age 71. Making a spousal contribution will provide you with a deduction on your tax return and may help you equalize your family’s future retirement income.
• Pension sharing: If you and your spouse are both 60 years of age or over and are receiving or are eligible to receive the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) benefits, consider sharing your pension with your spouse. Service Canada or Retraite Quebec will recalculate the pensions that are paid to you and your spouse if you apply for pension sharing. Pension sharing would be beneficial where you can have some of the higher income spouse’s CPP or QPP be paid to the lower income spouse so it is taxed in their hands.

Tax minimization strategies

• Forgotten RRSP contribution: If you’re turning age 71 this year and are still earning RRSP contribution room or have unused room carried forward, consider making a final RRSP contribution (based on your earned income for 2019) by December 31, 2019, before converting to a RRIF or other RRSPmaturity option. Although you’ll besubject to a 1% over-contribution penalty for the month of December, the benefit of the tax-deferral and compounding growth in the RRIF may outweigh the penalty.
• Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) contribution: Consider contributing to your TFSA. The annual TFSA contribution limit for 2019 is $6,000. If you’ve been eligible to open a TFSA since 2009 and have not yet contributed to one, your contribution limit would be $63,500 as of January 1, 2019. Any income earned (including capital gains) in the TFSA and any withdrawals you make from the account are generally tax-free and do not affect your federal government income-tested benefits such as Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). The income you earn or the withdrawals you make will also not impact your entitlement to federal tax credits such as the age amount. The TFSA can also be used to shelter money that you may not currently need. For example, if you don’t require your entire mandatory minimum RRIF payment to fund your expenses, consider contributing any excess after-tax amount to your TFSA.
• Use your spouse’s age for RRIF minimum payments: By the end of the calendar year in which you turn age 71, you are required to convert your RRSP into a RRIF, purchase an annuity with the RRSP assets or take the value of the RRSP as a taxable lump-sum payment. You can use any of these options or you may choose to combine some of these options. If you choose to convert to a RRIF, have a younger spouse and do not need themandatory annual minimum RRIF payments, consider using your younger spouse’s age when setting up the RRIF to minimize your taxable RRIF withdrawals.

Government benefits

• Old Age Security: OAS benefits are available to anyone 65 years of age or over who meets the eligibility requirements. The amount of your OAS pension will be determined by how long you’ve lived in Canada after age 18. You can postpone receiving your OAS payments for up to five years and in turn receive a higher OAS monthly payment. The maximum benefit for January to March 2019 is $601.45 per month assuming you did not previously defer your OAS payment. This income-tested benefit is clawed back at a rate of $0.15 for every $1 of net income over $77,580 and is fully clawed back once your net income reaches approximately $126,000 if you’re entitled to the maximum OAS benefit and have not chosen to defer your OAS benefit. If your income in the previous year was uncharacteristically high due to a unique one-time taxable transaction (for example, a large severance payment or a large capital gain from selling your business or real estate property), your OAS payments may be clawed back. If you expect the your income for this year will be substantially lower than your income for lastyear, you can submit a request to reduce the amount withheld on your future OAS pension payments. You can submit the request by completing CRA Form T1213 (OAS), Request to Reduce Old Age Security Recovery Tax at Source.
• Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan: If you’ve ever worked in Canada, you may be eligible to receive CPP or QPP payments. The CPP and QPP payments are based on your past contributions to these programs and are not incometested. You can start receiving CPP and QPP as early as age 60, but you’ll receive a reduced pension in this case. The monthly amount you receive will be reduced by a certain percentage for each month you receive your pension before age 65. You are also able to delay receiving your CPP or QPP pension in order to receive an increased monthly amount. Your pension will be increased by a certain percentage for each month you delay receiving it, up to age 70. For additional information on increases or decreases to your pension, please ask an RBC advisor for an article on CPP/QPP.

Tax credits

• Age amount: If you’re 65 years of age or over, you may be able to claim the age amount on your tax return. The age amount is a federal non-refundable tax credit of $1,124 (15% of $7,494 for 2019). The credit is reduced by $0.15 for every $1 of net income above $37,790, and is completely eliminated when your net income is $87,750 or higher. Keep in mind that you may also be eligible to claim a corresponding provincial or territorial credit. If you do not need to claim all of the credit to reduce your federal taxes to zero, you may transfer any unused amount to your spouse. If you and your spouse can’t use the amount, the amount can’t be carried forward or back to other tax years and will be lost.
• Pension income: You may be entitled to receive a federal nonrefundable pension income tax credit on the first $2,000 of eligible pension income you receive in the year. Eligible pension income includes, but is not limited to, life annuity payments from a pension plan and, when you’re age 65 or over, it also includes withdrawals from your RRIF, LIF, RLIF, LRIF and Prescribed RRIF accounts. OAS payments and CPP and QPP payments do not qualify as eligible pension income. Again here, you may also be eligible to claim a corresponding provincial or territorial credit. If you don’t need to claim all of the credit to reduce your federal taxes to zero, you may transfer any unused amount to your spouse. Any unused amount can’t be carried forward or back to other tax years and will be lost.

Trust planning

• Inter-vivos trusts: Consider the benefits of setting up an inter-vivos trust, such as a family trust. An inter-vivos trust may be used to income split with your children or grandchildren or simply provide ongoing financial support for your children or other family members. An inter-vivos trust can also be used as a discrete means of transferring assets to your beneficiaries outside of your estate. Since assets in an inter-vivos trust do not pass through your estate, you may be able to avoid probate taxes in most provinces and territories. If you are age 65 or over, an alter ego trust or a joint partner trust (for you and your spouse) may provide you with additional tax and estate planning opportunities. Speak to a qualified tax advisor to determine if these types of trusts are right for you.
• Testamentary trusts: Consider creating a testamentary trust in your Will. A testamentary trust is an alternative to an outright distribution of your estate assets. It allows you to control the timing and distribution of assets to your beneficiaries. Testamentary trusts can be used to create solutions to complex family situations, for example a child with a disability, a spendthrift beneficiary, minor children or a second marriage. There was a time when testamentary trusts could be used for income splitting but this advantage has been eliminated. If you set up a testamentary trust to minimize taxation, you may want to review your estate plan. You should consult with a qualified legal advisor to discuss the merits of creating a testamentary trust in your Will.

Gifting

• Gift assets: Gifting assets to your children or grandchildren during your lifetime is a simple strategy that may help you reduce the size of your estate and thereforepossibly reduce probate and taxes on these assets during your lifetime and on death. For tax purposes, it’s important to recognize that you’re deemed to have disposed of the assets you gift at fair market value. Further, if you make gifts to minors, beware of the attribution rules, which could result in the dividend and interest income that is earned on the gifts to be attributed back to you and taxed in your hands.
• In-kind donation of publicly traded securities: If you have philanthropic intentions, you may want to consider gifting your publicly traded securities directly to a qualified donee. Qualified donees may be charitable organizations, public foundations or private foundations. Typically, a registered charity is a qualified donee. Any accrued capital gains on these securities should be exempt from tax. You will also receive a donation tax credit equivalent to the fair market value of the securities you donate, which may reduce your overall tax bill. If you’re interested in this option, remember to discuss your plans with the intended charity to ensure that they are willing and able to accept this type of gift.
• Charitable remainder trust: You may want to consider establishing a charitable remainder trust that generates an immediate donation receipt for you. Throughout your lifetime, you’ll receive income from the trust, and upon your death, the remainder will pass directly to the charity you name as the beneficiary. This approach may provide immediate tax relief to you, instead of your future estate. Consult with a qualified tax and legal advisor to determine whether a charitable remainder trust makes sense for you. It’s also important to discuss your plans with the charity to ensure that they are willing and able to accept this type of gift.

Estate planning

• U.S. estate tax: If you own any U.S. situs assets (which includes, but is not limited to, U.S. real estate and U.S. securities, both in your non-registered and registered accounts), it’s important to examine your potential U.S. estate tax exposure. You may be subject to U.S. estate tax even if you are not a U.S. person. Speak with a qualified tax advisor regarding strategies to minimize or eliminate your potential U.S. estate tax liability.
• Estate planning: Ensure that your Will, beneficiary designations, Power of Attorney documents (Mandate in Quebec) are valid, up-to-date and still reflect your wishes.

Conclusion

This article covers some common financial planning considerations for seniors. Depending on your particular situation and objectives, you may want to consider implementing some of the strategies discussed to help in organizing and securing your financial future. For more information on any of these topics, please speak with an RBC advisor and a qualified tax advisor.

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Gabriel Flores is an investment advisor at RBC.  The opinions of the author do not necessarily reflect those of RBC. This article is for informational purposes only.

This article may contain several strategies, not all of which will apply to your particular financial circumstances. The information in this article is not intended to provide legal, tax or insurance advice. To ensure that your own circumstances have been properly considered and that action is taken based on the latest information available, you should obtain professional advice from a qualified tax, legal and/or insurance advisor before acting on any of the information in this article.

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We hope you enjoyed this blog post!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us by email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal Blog!

Edition #4

July 2019

Author:

Marie-Soleil Blanchet

Art Therapist

For the July 2019 blog entry, the Alzheimer Society of Montreal team is proud to present to you Creative Hearts.

Creative Hearts is the annual exhibition of artwork created by participants in the Alzheimer Society of Montreal’s art therapy workshops.

This video was presented at the vernissage of the exhibition on Thursday, June 13, 2019.

Discover the creative hearts of our clients living with dementia for yourself: come and admire their work in person at the Alzheimer Society of Montreal’s head office (4505 Notre-Dame Street West) during our opening hours.

Enjoy the video!

Welcome to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal Blog!

Edition #3

May 2019

Author:

Carlo Gagliardi

Financial Planner
Associate Portfolio Manager

Enjoy the blog!

C’est particulièrement vrai pour les personnes atteintes de la maladie d’Alzheimer ou d’une maladie apparentée.

L’immense problème que j’ai constaté au cours de mon travail auprès de clients ayant reçu récemment un diagnostique (et des membres de leur famille), c’est l’étape du deuil.

En tant qu’aide-mémoire, les différentes étapes du deuil sont les suivantes :

1. le choc et le déni
2. la douleur et la culpabilité
3. la colère et la négociation
4. la dépression, la réflexion, la solitude
5. l’acceptation et l’espoir

Selon mon expérience, j’ai noté que le stade du déni dure plus longtemps chez les personnes atteintes d’Alzheimer, ou d’une maladie neurocognitive, que chez leur proche aidant. Pour quelle raison ?  Probablement en raison du déclin réel de la capacité cognitive.  Par exemple, pour certaines personnes, la diminution de la capacité cognitive peut être si lente qu’on ne peut facilement l’ignorer en disant « Ah, j’étais distrait » ou « C’est normal d’oublier en vieillissant ».

L’étape du déni peut avoir des conséquences selon la manière et le moment où d’importantes décisions doivent être prises. C’est comme dire : « Si je ne tiens pas compte du problème, il disparaîtra éventuellement. »  Bien sûr qu’il ne disparaîtra pas ; au contraire, il ne fera qu’empirer. 

Il est donc crucial d’être proactif.  Il est important que toute la situation financière soit clarifiée AVANT que la maladie ne s’aggrave.

Avoir de l’initiative permet à la personne de prendre des décisions selon ses propres exigences… c’est cela qui est très important.  Pourtant, les faits démontrent que la plupart d’entre eux vont tergiverser et remettre à plus tard la prise de ces décisions importantes.

Un récent sondage a révélé que près de 60 % des familles canadiennes n’ont jamais organisé de réunion familiale pour discuter de planification successorale, ou encore exprimer le souhait d’aborder le sujet de planification successorale.

Ignorer le problème et espérer que les choses se déroulent sans difficulté (c’est-à-dire éviter la réalité) ne fera qu’amplifier le problème.

J’ai communiqué avec quelques-uns de mes clients qui se sont occupés d’un être cher atteint d’Alzheimer, ou d’une maladie apparentée, pour connaître leur réflexion à ce sujet.  Qu’auraient-ils fait différemment ? Quel conseil donneraient-ils à une personne qui vient d’apprendre qu’un être cher a reçu le diagnostique ?

Voici ce que ces personnes m’ont dit dans leurs propres mots :

• Tendez hâtivement la main au CLSC – entreprenez immédiatement le processus de placement, car on ne sait jamais à quelle vitesse le déclin va se produire.
• Testaments/procuration – entreprenez rapidement le processus alors que la personne est encore capable de prendre des décisions ; la procuration qu’une institution financière vous propose est complètement différente de la procuration notariée (une procuration bancaire est très limitée et, après un certain point, devient inutile)
• Évitez les comptes bancaires et les placements conjoints.
• Si la personne atteinte gère une propriété – des frais supplémentaires peuvent être encourus (par exemple, le transport par taxi pour les rendez-vous / les services d’entretien et de préparation des repas).
• Faites face : apprenez à accepter l’aide ; ayez besoin de prendre une pause ; faites peut-être un long voyage – conservez vos énergies ; apprenez à vivre le moment présent – regardez des photos
• Ayez recours aux ressources mises à votre disposition (par exemple : la Société Alzheimer de Montréal)
• Inscrivez-vous à des ateliers d’information – suivez les conseils portant sur la façon de parler à une personne atteinte de la maladie d’Alzheimer et répondez aux questions difficiles qu’elle vous posera.
• Par exemple, les ateliers d’information m’aident, si nécessaire, à rediriger la conversation. Comme la mémoire de ma mère était de plus en plus défaillante, elle ne se rappelait plus que papa était décédé et croyait qu’il l’avait quittée.  J’ai appris que la clé réside au fait de garder la conversation simple et positive.
• Aspects juridiques : le processus d’obtention d’un mandat a été long et coûteux.

En fin de compte, la situation de chacun est unique et comporte des défis particuliers.  Cependant, il existe des étapes que vous pouvez prendre afin de rendre le processus, l’expérience et le périple moins difficile / exigeants. 

Cela signifie :

• Ne jouez pas à l’autruche – discutez avec les membres de la famille dès le début
• Faites participer le maximum de membres de la famille  aux tâches afin de réduire le fardeau.
• Devancez la situation en planifiant toute la question financière : Testament, procuration, mandat en cas d’inaptitude, gestion bancaire, placement, factures à payer
• Utilisez les ressources mises à votre disposition, comme la Société Alzheimer de Montréal, assistez à des ateliers d’information et à des conférences
• Visitez les sites Web du gouvernement afin d’obtenir de plus amples renseignements et de l’aide ; renseignez-vous sur votre admissibilité à des crédits d’impôt supplémentaires ou  celui du proche aidant.

Étant donné que la population vieillit et vit plus longtemps, il est inévitable qu’un plus grand nombre de personnes recevront un diagnostic d’Alzheimer ou d’une maladie neurocognitive.  Cela peut arriver à vous, à moi ou à un être cher.  Ayez les outils, les ressources et les connaissances nécessaires pour savoir par où commencer et avec qui communiquer afin de rendre cette expérience moins stressante.

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Carlo Gagliardi est conseiller en placement chez Raymond James ltée.  Les opinions de l’auteur ne reflètent pas nécessairement celles de Raymond James ltée.  Cet article n’est fourni qu’à titre d’information.  Raymond James ltée est membre du Fonds canadien de protection des épargnants.

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Nous espérons que cette entrée de blogue vous a plu !

Si vous avez des questions ou désirez partager vos commentaires avec notre équipe, vous pouvez nous écrire à l’adresse suivante [email protected]

Welcome to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal Blog!

Edition #2

April 2019

Author:

Anne Marie Parent

Journalist
Volunteer at the Alzheimer Society of Montreal

Enjoy the blog!

Photo: Bruno Parent

It is my will, desire, and joy to dedicate my time to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal at events such as the Walk for Alzheimer’s in May and the Hector “Toe” Blake Celebrity Golf Tournament in August. Volunteering is my way of giving back. I am happy to support these events because they raise awareness and funds for this extremely important organization that has helped and supported me and my fabulous, forgetful father, as well as 1,700 other Montrealers affected by dementia— out of the 33,000 on the island who live with the disease.

A GROWING NEED FOR SERVICES

Over 125,000 Quebeckers live with Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia, and this number is increasing at an alarming rate— it is expected to rise by 66% in the next 15 years! As a result, support and self-help organizations have no choice but to keep up with the increasing demand for their services. Human and financial resources don’t grow on trees, so sustained, consistent support from professionals and volunteers is vital to ensure that the Alzheimer Societies can carry out their mission.

I do my small part for this very reason— I don’t want the organization that has helped me to disappear, because so many others will also need its support— and also to warmly thank the Alzheimer Society of Montreal team for all they have done for me. Furthermore, I find it highly rewarding to help do good for a worthy cause.

I volunteer at the Alzheimer Society of Montreal because of what I am going through with my father. I am learning to rediscover him every day as his journey progresses, as the love I give him, he gives back to me, is ever present and always moving. People living with dementia may lose some of their memories, but their loved ones will never forget them.

OUR STORY

I am a caregiver for my father, Philippe. He is 85 years old and has frontotemporal dementia, a form of dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease. Four years ago, my brother and I sold our father’s house and moved him into a senior’s residence. Two years later, we had to move him again—this time to a floor for people living with dementia. He had just spent five weeks in hospital and his loss of autonomy had become so great that he could no longer live alone. In order to understand, accept, and live with this new reality, I went looking for help, counselling, and advice from the professionals at the Alzheimer Society of Montreal.

To start, I attended the 8-week information and support group for caregivers. For three and a half years, I also brought my father with me so that he could attend the workshops offered by the Society to people living with dementia. He participated in a range of amusing, stimulating and meaningful activities that made him sincerely happy, such as: art therapy, animal therapy, aromatherapy, yoga, Zumba Gold chair routines, singing, ukulele-building and Christmas decoration workshops, and even visits to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts as part of the Society’s Art Links program.

I still attend monthly support groups for caregivers that help me deal with the progression of my father’s disease. I learned that it was not the end of the world, just the end of one world and a transition to a new universe where my father changes, while remaining the same happy man he always was. He’s not sad, it’s true, and this is because he is living in the present, not the past. If his present is filled with stimulating and enriching activities, he will remain happy— joyful even— which, in turn, helps the orderlies at his residence to care for him and even remark upon his kindness and good humour.

EMOTIONS AND AMBIGUOUS LOSS

Thanks to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal, I have learned so much about the positive emotions that endure, and that it is important to continue providing my father with opportunities to experience tenderness, joy, pride, dignity, love, and music… Yes, music is the essence of emotion! That’s why it remains with people living with dementia far into the progression of the disease.

The Society has also taught me the meaning of ambiguous loss, the realization that my father is no longer who he always was— a fiercely independent man! Ambiguous loss generates the feelings of grief that one experiences when a loved one dies, however, with dementia, the person has not passed away. With ambiguous loss comes suffering, it’s true, but once we learn to tame it, we can also experience moments of joy alongside it.

These moments become small victories over the inevitable daily decline, and a nod to the happiness that remains through a song we hum together; my father’s unshakeable faith in my strength as he clasps my hand when we walk; his laugh and the twinkle in his eyes as he observes our reactions to the funny faces he pulls; or his pride in having created a masterpiece in one of his art therapy workshops. We learn to put things into perspective, to play down the difficult moments, and to appreciate the simple things that soothe our hearts and wipe away the tears of despair.

Recognition and Repayment

The help of the Alzheimer Society of Montreal has had an immeasurable impact upon both my father and us, his loved ones. The peace of mind that comes from having access to the Society’s services is essential to our well-being. This lifesaver, however, would not exist without the organization’s extraordinary staff and donors. To repay the Society in kind, I volunteer.

By volunteering, I am doing my part to ensure that the Alzheimer Society of Montreal can continue providing services to caregivers and people living with dementia. The number of diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia is increasing at an epidemic rate, mainly due to the aging of the population, and almost all of us will need help—for a family member or a friend— at some point soon, in a future that is coming ever closer.

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We hope you enjoyed this blog post!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us by email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Alzheimer Society of Montreal Blog!

Edition #1

March 2019

Authors:

Alexandra Louridas, BA MPNL

Coordinator– Partnership Development
Alzheimer Society of Montreal

Richard Steele, BA

Coordinator– Digital Engagement
Alzheimer Society of Montreal

Every year, large companies receive a staggering amount of major donation requests from a number of worthy causes and, naturally, they can’t all be granted!

As a result, not-for-profit organizations are adapting their strategies and P2P fundraising is on the rise.

But what exactly is it and how does it work?

What does P2P mean?

B2B, B2C— you’ve probably heard this marketing jargon before, are we right?

These abbreviations are commonplace in the business community and are used to describe transactions or arrangements made between two businesses (B2B) or a business and its customers (B2C).

P2P is an abbreviation for person-to-person, or peer-to-peer.

P2P fundraising, then, is people connecting with people to raise money in support of an organization or cause that is important to them.

How does it work?

At the heart of P2P fundraising is an individual’s social network.

Have you seen posts on Facebook or Twitter from friends asking you to support a challenge or other event they are participating in? This is P2P fundraising in action!

Campaigns such as these may not have the financial clout of a major fundraising campaign, but they are both personal and powerful.

They allow individuals to share their stories.

To share your story, however, you need a vehicle— and we’re here to show you how to drive it!

Principles and Top Tips for Your P2P Campaign!

P2P fundraising is central to 3 major events that are organized in support of the Alzheimer Society of Montreal: the Walk for Alzheimer’s and the Pointe-Claire and Lachine Half-Marathons.

We’ve learned a good deal about P2P fundraising over the past few years and we want to share some tips and tricks that will help you manage your P2P campaign as efficiently as possible!

Setting Up Your Personal Online Fundraising Page

Your P2P campaign needs a base of operations.

That’s why your first step should be to create a personal fundraising page!

If you are participating in an event organized by a not-for-profit organization, it is likely that there will be an online fundraising platform on which to do this.

Before creating your page, we recommend that you gather the following:

1. Your Personal Information

Before setting up your fundraising page, you will most likely have to create an account.

Make sure you have your home address, phone number, email address, and other contact details to hand. A credit card is also handy if you have to pay a registration fee to participate in the event.

TOP TIP: You will likely have to choose a user name and password for your account. Make sure you write it down!

2. Your Story

Most P2P fundraising pages come equipped with a generic text informing page readers that you are supporting a particular cause and that their donations would be welcome.

Use this space to make sure your story is front and centre!

Prepare a short text (roughly 200-300 words) to explain why you are participating in the event and share your passion for the cause.

TOP TIP: Keep it short and sweet! You can share a longer version of your story on a personal website/blog/social media page if you wish, but make sure you keep this shorter version for your page.

3. Your Photos

A picture is worth a thousand words!

For example, if you are raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Montreal in memory of your grandmother who lived with dementia, post a photo of yourself and your grandmother!

The photo on your page is a snapshot of your campaign and adds another dimension to your story.

TOP TIP: Why not go multimedia? If you have a video you would like to share, most P2P fundraising platforms will allow you to share it on your page!

Next Steps!

Now that your page is up and running, it’s about getting the word out!

Here’s how:

1. Email your family and friends!

Most P2P fundraising platforms have a feature that allows users to email their contacts! Using these email templates is a great way to make your campaign look professional and benefit from the association with the not-for-profit you are supporting.

It also makes it easy for your contacts to access your page and make a donation!

TOP TIP: Keep your entourage up to date with how your campaign is progressing. People are likely to donate if they know that they are helping you achieve your goal!

2. Get Posting and Tweeting!

Harness the power of your social networks! There will be a link on the P2P platform that enables you to share your page on social media quickly and easily.

TOP TIP: When sharing on social media, let your friends know how their donations make a difference! Contact the organization you are supporting for statistics and information about what donations are used for. Here is an example on our website.

3. Don’t Neglect the Old Ways!P2P fundraising is, above all, a personal initiative, so don’t neglect traditional fundraising approaches!For example:

• The next time you are chatting with a friend on the phone, mention that you are raising money for a cause and ask them to support you!
• Do you have a quick chat with the barista when you visit your local coffee shop? Or the cashier at your supermarket/ pharmacy? Ask him/her if you can display a poster on their community notice board!

TOP TIP: Talk to people differently! Your friends and family are all different so don’t just use a “one-size-fits-all” message. Make your request as unique as your loved ones are!

4. Always Say Thank You!When your campaign has ended, irrespective of the amount raised, make sure you take the time to personally thank everyone who donated to you.Your gratitude will be sincerely appreciated and will increase the likelihood that your donors will contribute to your future P2P campaigns!

The Power of Facebook!

Since November 2018, Facebook has allowed its Canadian users to organize fundraisers on the platform! If you want to organize a fundraiser for a not-for-profit yourself, this is a great way to do so.

The partnership between Facebook and PayPal Giving Fund Canada means that donations are secure and, if you are already a Facebook user, it is easy to create a fundraiser.

All you have to do is:

1. Select the charity you wish to raise money for.
2. Determine the amount you want to raise and the end date of the campaign.
3. Choose a name for the campaign and write your story.

That’s it!

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers/

We hope you’ve found this first ever blog post useful and informative!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us by email: [email protected]