Today, nearly half a million people in Canada are living with dementia — a number expected to double by 2030. Dementia can cause memory loss, confusion, and difficulty with daily tasks, making public situations overwhelming and, at times, frightening. Unfortunately, misunderstandings and stigma often lead to judgment rather than support.
That’s why Kits House and our community must come together to raise awareness and deepen our understanding of what it means to live with dementia. By listening to individuals with lived experience — their stories, needs, and perspectives — we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment.
Kits House is actively working to increase dementia awareness through community initiatives. Our goal is to shift public perceptions, foster empathy, and use these insights to develop meaningful training opportunities. We are committed to building a dementia-friendly neighbourhood where everyone feels valued and supported.
Recent Collaborations, Workshops, and Information Sessions
In collaboration with the Westside Seniors Hub and UBC, our training, information, and guidelines are all in alignment with updated and recent research, conducted by leading teams across the province. One of our prioritized frameworks comes through the Flipping Stigma Toolkit.
Ways to Get Involved & Spread Awareness
1) Become a Volunteer Buddy
Kits House facilitates a Volunteer Buddy program. Trained volunteers work specifically alongside our community members living with dementia to create and develop meaningful connections. As a Buddy, you will be asked to attend programs with a community member living with dementia so that our programs can become more inclusive.
Steps to Become a Memory Buddy:
- The first step is to become a Kits House Volunteer
- The next step is to contact Brae — our Memory Buddy Coordinator: Braelynd@kitshouse.org
- Attend a training orientation. During the orientation, volunteers will listen to and discuss with a facilitator who will share:
- Ways to best communicate with someone living with dementia
- How to help someone in a confused state
- What it means to be a Volunteer Buddy
2) Know Someone Who Could Benefit From Having a Buddy?
Using the online referral form — Memory Buddy Referral Form — anyone can easily sign up a family member, friend, colleague, or client (or even yourself).
3) Next Steps After Signing Up
- Referral form is submitted to Kits House Memory Buddy Coordinator — Brae
- An in-person orientation is scheduled to get to know you better. This helps us identify how to support you or your loved one and find the right match.
- The Memory Buddy team finds a volunteer to pair with.
- Once a pair is found, a second orientation with the Memory Buddy is scheduled. Visiting details with your new buddy are discussed at this time.
Memory Buddy Partnerships
- University of British Columbia — Building Capacity Project
- Alzheimer Society of BC
- BC Elder Law — Now managed through TRU Law Faculty
- Westside Seniors Hub
- Family Caregivers of British Columbia
- United Way of BC
4) Self-Learning Opportunities
- Take a read through the Flipping Stigma Toolkit
- Tune into weekly webinars with the Alzheimer Society of BC
- General services, programs, and information from Alzheimer Society of Canada
- Multilingual dementia information from Alzheimer Society of Canada
Contact Us!
Interested in learning more about our initiative?
Please contact Braelyn Dillon at
604-736-3588 ext. 600
braelynd@kitshouse.org