The Alzheimer Society of Lanark Leeds Grenville has officially opened its new Dementia Health Hub in Smiths Falls, creating more room for programs, respite care and health services for people living with dementia and their families.
The new facility at 88 Cornelia Street West, Unit A, celebrated its grand opening Monday afternoon.
Executive Director Melinda Coleman says the Smiths Falls location was chosen in part because it sits centrally within the organization’s service area, which also includes locations in Brockville, Carleton Place, Almonte and Perth.
For Coleman, who has been with the organization for 27 years, the new facility is also a sign of how dramatically demand and services have grown.
The expanded Smiths Falls hub includes space for the Minds in Motion program, which can draw about 30 participants each week.
It also provides offices for seven employees, allowing staff to meet privately with clients and families.
A clinical room is being developed for cognitive assessments and foot care, while a partnership with Lanark County Paramedic Services will bring flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to clients.
The facility also houses the adult day program and four overnight respite beds. Coleman says the additional space allows another family to access overnight support each weekend in a program that already has a waiting list.
MPP John Jordan says investing in services outside hospitals and doctors’ offices can help people receive support earlier while reducing pressure elsewhere in the health-care system.
Jordan also pointed to the importance of respite services for families caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
Coleman says those caregivers are a major part of the society’s work. The organization provides education, connects families with other community services and helps people understand what may come next as dementia progresses.
The move to Cornelia Street has also made the organization more visible. Coleman says the former Smiths Falls location was difficult for some people to find, while the new site is already seeing more walk-in visitors.
She says residents do not need to wait until they are facing a diagnosis to stop in.
The hub is also available to people who simply want to learn more about brain health, dementia and the services available across the region.
