Still Me Leaders Forum
The Still Me Leaders Forum was held in Calgary on May 28th, 2025. This was a Practice Development Opportunity, with 150 leaders in attendance from community services, housing, continuing care, healthcare, education and research, advocacy organizations, policy leaders, and caregiver resources, with representatives from Alberta’s diverse communities.
A Day of BEING INSPIRED, LEARNING, and ENGAGING to shape the future.
“We do the best we can with what we know; when we know more, we can do better!”
Targeted Outcomes
- “Still Me” powers our hearts, minds and movement for change for inclusive environments for persons living with dementia
- New language, practices, partnerships, and strategic action plans mobilize communities for practice for a health and social system where persons living with dementia experience acceptance, wellbeing, improved quality of life and care in the right place at the right time, with a workforce that is empowered and where caregivers are supported as partners
Deliverables
- A summary report and action plan prepared by AAG & Alzheimer Calgary with participant feedback and a summary of actions from the event. Action plans will be developed in collaboration with provincial change leaders for each of the sectors involved (Associations, Continuing Care Quality of Life Initiative, Caregiver Strategists, Educators)
- Report provided to the Ministry of Seniors and Community Social Services and Assisted Living Alberta, Ministry of Health and other Ministries with opportunities to advance wellbeing for citizens
Speakers and Presentations
Introductions
- Barb Ferguson, Executive Director, Alzheimer Calgary
- “Our Future: Persons Living with Dementia – Still Me – Our Call to Action!
- Marlene Raasok, AAG Co-Project Lead
- Our Opportunity: A Cross-Sector Practice Development Opportunity
- Jon Elliott, Executive Director, Indigenous Health Programming, Primary and Preventative Health Services, Alberta Health
- Presentation
The Vision for Change
- Keynote: Dr. G. Allen Power, Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation. Internationally known speaker, author and changemaker
- Dementia Beyond Segregation: Pathways to Inclusion
- Dr. Rose Joudi, Project Manager – The Way In Network & Special Projects, Carya
- Feeling Seen: How Cultural Care Promotes Inclusion for Persons Living with Dementia
Making the Vision Real in Residential Care
- Keynote: Suellen Beatty, CEO Emeritus, Sherbrooke Community Society Inc.
- “Still Me”: Creating Inclusive Environments in Residential Care and Communities for People Living with Dementia
- Kera Redlack, VP Wellness & Employee Engagement, United Active Living
- Secret to “Still Me”: Relationship-focused Care as the Foundation
- Dorthe Flauer, Educator, Lifestyle Options
- On the Road to Compassionate Resident-Centered Care
- Candice Christenson, VP & Chief Clinical Officer & Cheryl Sarazin, VP & Chief Quality Officer, Good Samaritan Society
- Small Home Model Reimagined
Communities for Living Well: Partnering Across Sectors
- Adele McKechnie, Innisfail Community Partners in Action Chairperson & Helen Lightfoot, Senior Practice Consultant, Connecting People & Community for Living Well, Alberta Health Services
- Partnering Across Sectors: Community Partners in Action – Innisfail
- Barbara Siebel & Allison McKelvey-Jozsa, Specialized Geriatric Services, AHS & Caregiver-Centred Care Health Workforce Education, University of Alberta
- Caregiver-Centred Care: Joy on the Journey – Creative Approaches at Senior’s Health
Together, Making “Still Me” Real
- Sharon Anderson, President, Alberta Association on Gerontology
- Creating the Momentum for Change and Next Steps