Land Acknowledgement and Event Information at Langara College

Langara College and Indigenous Lands

• Langara College is located on the unceded Traditional Coast Salish lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation.
• The Shell Midden sites are former fishing camps, village and house sites, and sometimes Musqueam burial sites.

49 Women in Science Event

• The event will focus on healthcare technology solutions and feature guest speaker Elise Huisman, Senior Principal Scientist at Medtronic.
• The event will include a fireside-chat, question and answer period, and networking session.
• Light snacks and beverages will be provided, and the first 30 students to attend will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card.

Health and Mental Health

• Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 2021).
• Health is also defined as "the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit" (Merriam Webster, n.d.).

Disease and Disorder

• A disease is a definite pathological process having a characteristic set of signs and symptoms.
• A disorder refers to a cluster of symptoms that disrupts normal body function but may not have a known cause.

Dementia

• Dementia is a syndrome that affects memory, thinking, and behavior, and is not a normal part of aging.
• The three stages of dementia are:
  • Early stage: forgetfulness, confusion, and difficulty with communication
  • Middle stage: requiring help with daily activities, personality changes, and behavioral changes
  • Late stage: severe symptoms, loss of ability to respond to environment, and eventually loss of control over movement

Person-Centred Care

• A person-centred approach to care focuses on affording people dignity, compassion, and respect, and offering personalized care and support.
• Benefits of person-centred care include:
  • Reduced use of emergency hospital services
  • Increased patient engagement and satisfaction
  • Improved staff performance and morale
• Challenges with person-centred care and dementia include:
  • Patients with dementia may not be able to make decisions about their care
  • Health professionals may need to take a more directive role in care planning

Canada's Dementia Strategy

• The Government of Canada has provided $11 billion over 10 years to improve home and community care, including palliative care, and mental health and addiction services.
• The vision of Canada's dementia strategy is to create a Canada where all people living with dementia and caregivers are valued and supported, and quality of life is optimized.