Dementia is often described as a journey that the person living with dementia and the people who support them take together. The Our Dementia Journey Journal (ODJJ) is an interactive tool that was co-designed with and for people living with dementia, their caregivers and their care providers to help foster strong relationships and good communication between them along the dementia journey.
The ODJJ uses the concept of the Circle of Care to describe the relationships between the three groups of people involved in the dementia journey: the person living with dementia, caregivers and healthcare providers including nurses, doctors, personal support workers and others. Every member of the Circle of Care is invited to use the ODJJ app.
The ODJJ is designed to accomplish 3 goals within the Circle of Care:
Build better relationships between family/friend caregivers and healthcare providers
Establish a shared definition of “dementia care”
Negotiate and renegotiate caregiving roles as the nature of care changes along the dementia journey
By enhancing the relationship between caregivers and healthcare providers, the ODJJ can help provide better care for the person living with dementia.
The ODJJ app is available in two versions: the generic version and the First Nation version. Each version was co-designed by a diverse set of participants including First Nation and South Asian communities. The app is also available in English, French, Hindi and Punjabi.
5 Key Features:
ASK: The My Questions About Dementia section offers a space to ask and answer each other’s questions about any aspect of care including symptoms, how you’re feeling, or who’s responsible for what. Exchange responses virtually on the app or save your questions as a guide for your next in person conversation.
SHARE: The About Me section contains multiple activities for members of the circle of care to share information about themselves that may be important for others to know throughout the care journey (e.g., elements of their life history or personal preferences in their daily routine).
TRACK: The Wellness section contains a symptom tracker, a well-being check-in, and a place to record and share your concerns with the rest of the Circle of Care.
REFLECT: The My Journal section offers a space to reflect on experiences throughout the dementia journey. You may upload pictures or videos to accompany your writing and choose whether to share your entries with the rest of the Circle of Care.
GET HELP: The Tools section contains a list of resources you may find helpful along the dementia journey and allows you to save additional resources that you come across for later reference.
Our Dementia Journey Journal was created with support and funding from SE Health, The Alzheimer Society of Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected].
The content of this app is provided for information purposes only and does not represent legal, financial, or medical advice, an endorsement, or a recommendation, with respect to any product, strategy, service, or enterprise, and/or the claims and properties thereof, by the Alzheimer Society of Canada
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada. To read the Term of Use, simply click on this link.
Any information entered in the Our Dementia Journey Journal app can be seen by all members of the Circle of Care.