A new program to provide physical activity, socialization and mental stimulation for people with dementia will be starting Monday at the PCU Centre in Portage. Karen Lambert, North Central Regional Coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, says they often find that folks who are in early to mid-stage dementia still function very well but they begin to lose some of the social activities they used to enjoy. Lambert notes family members also tend to spend more time focusing on caregiving, adding the "Minds In Motion" program provides participants with a welcoming environment where they can establish new friendships. She says they do ask that people attend in pairs---the person with dementia and a caregiver---adding they can accommodate up to eleven pairs and they already have seven pairs registered for the first session.

Lambert notes while "Minds In Motion" began in B.C. back in 2009 and has been running in Winnipeg for about two years, the program is new to Portage la Prairie this fall. She says they plan to run the eight week session again in January and also in April. Lambert adds this gives people an opportunity to meet others who are going through the same journey and it also helps remove some of the stigma involved with dementia. She says they hope to keep reaching out to various organizations and businesses just to let everyone know how to communicate and to work with people who have dementia. The first session of "Minds In Motion" will be held at the PCU Centre from 1 to 3 p.m. on Monday, and the cost for the entire program is fifty-six dollars for each pair of participants.