HAMILTON, ON, March 21st, 2023. Advanced Gerontological Education (AGE) Inc. is a national not-for-profit social enterprise providing dementia-care education to healthcare staff and students working at the point of care with older adults. The organization is pleased to announce Don Seymour as its new Executive Director.
Don brings almost 25 years of executive leadership in healthcare and social services to the role. Previously, he was Executive Director of Wesley (Wesley Urban Ministries), an established non-profit in Hamilton, Ontario. Don’s past leadership experience in the field of mental health will be invaluable to the AGE Team in their work in the dementia-care context. Don was founding Chief Executive Officer of Addiction & Mental Health Services for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington (South-Eastern Ontario) and the Canadian Mental Health Association of London and Middlesex (South-Western Ontario). He spent 11 years as Executive Director of Lambton County Developmental Services (Western Ontario). His knowledge and understanding of change management, organizational development, strategic planning and social enterprise will help ensure AGE is well prepared to meet what the Alzheimer Society of Canada refers to as the “impending dementia-care crisis.”
Don is excited to join AGE Inc. in the role of Executive Director. “I look forward to building on AGE Inc.’s already strong foundation of service excellence. As the son of a parent with advanced dementia, I have seen the benefits of Gentle Persuasive Approaches first-hand — how it helps persons living with the disease and the healthcare professionals who care for them. With a rapidly aging population, an organization such as AGE Inc. ensures those who work at the point of care with older adults have the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to provide excellent person-centred support. I look forward to working with AGE Inc. and its community of stakeholders and partners as we develop innovative ways to respond to the needs of the growing number of people living with dementia.”
“Don’s approachable, empathetic, consultative, and visionary leadership style will be a tremendous asset to support the work at AGE Inc.,” says Laurie Fox, Chair of the AGE Inc. Board. “His track record in building authentic, sustainable, and collaborative partnerships will help the social enterprise explore ways to retain the high quality of service AGE’s customers have come to expect, while discovering opportunities for broader product and program reach. Additionally, we will benefit from Don’s experience and understanding of governance, along with the perspective he brings through his experience as an Administrative Surveyor for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Given the combination of Don’s experience, skill, leadership style and passion for the non-profit sector, the Board is excited for the future of AGE.”
The need for dementia-care education for those who work at the point of care is urgent. Although dementia mainly affects older people, not all older people get dementia. Dementia is a disease. More than 600,000 Canadians currently live with this disease. By 2030, that number will rise to 955,900. 1 We must ensure Canada’s care providers are well prepared.
If you have ideas for partnership or collaboration with AGE Inc., contact Don at don@ageinc.ca
To learn more about Don, visit his LinkedIn profile.
Download official Press Release
About Advanced Gerontological Education (AGE) Inc.
AGE Inc. is a national not-for-profit social enterprise in dementia-care education. Its main product is the Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) in Dementia Care curriculum. GPA is now its 4th edition. More than 550,000 Canadian healthcare providers across healthcare sectors and disciplines have taken GPA. AGE delivers its curriculum through the GPA Certified Coach (CC) Delivery Model, with more than 1,800 CCs active coast to coast. There is a GPA learning format to suit the needs of every organization, large or small — traditional classrooms, virtual classrooms, or hybrid options. GPA eLearning is 3-hour adapted version of the model, developed specifically for healthcare students and remote learning.
Learn more at www.ageinc.ca or email info@ageinc.ca
1 https://alzheimer.ca/en/research/reports-dementia/landmark-study-report-1-path-forward