New Web Community for Alzheimer's
Caregivers Launches January 6
Toronto, ON, January 6, 2009 – This morning, Pure Cobalt, a Montreal-based web development
firm, launched ForgetfulNotForgtten.com (www.forgetfulnotforgotten.com) a
web community where Canadian Alzheimer's caregivers can connect, communicate and
share experiences with other caregivers. The site, inspired by the documentary
of the same
name airing on TVO, Jan 11 at 9 PM, is the first web resource designed specifically from the ground up to meet the needs of Alzheimer's caregivers.
ForgetfulNotForgotten.com leverages advanced web
community features and functionality to create a place where Alzheimer's
caregivers can meet, share perspectives, find resources and -most importantly -
break through the barrier of isolation that affects so many caregivers. The site
was partially funded through a grant from the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund
and developed in cooperation with Montreal filmmaker Chris Wynn. The project has
also benefited from support from TVOntario and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.
"This site is a sort of logical extension of my
experiences making the film," says Chris Wynn, director of Forgetful Not
Forgotten. "After making the film, I felt a real need to take action beyond just
sharing my family's story. ForgetfulNotForgotten.com is the kind of community I
wish my mother, and my whole family, had access to during my father's struggle
with Alzheimer's disease."
"After meeting Chris, and talking with a number of
caregivers and medical professionals, we felt strongly that we could make a
really positive impact on the quality of life of caregivers," explains John Di
Gironimo, president of Pure Cobalt. "By putting the latest social networking,
community and content management tools to work to create an easy-to-use web
portal for Alzheimer's caregivers we are giving this group of people their own
voice and helping them break the isolation that often goes along with caring for
a loved one with Alzheimer's. This was also a project with personal meaning for
myself and several members of our team whose families have been affected by the
disease."
"We decided to become involved with this project because
of the close fit with our mission," says Shelagh Tippet-Fagyas, Chief Marketing
and Fund Development Officer at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. "Supporting
caregivers is priority activity for us, with each of the 39 Alzheimer Society
Chapters across Ontario offering support services geared to caregivers of people
with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Through our association
with ForgetfulNotForgotten.com we can further expand the availability of support
and information families need to better cope with all dementia, including
Alzheimer's disease. We're very excited about this project and look forward to
being actively involved in its future development."
Pure Cobalt is a Montreal-based wed development firm who
specialize in creating effective strategy-driven web sites, web technology and
e-learning that support key business objectives. The firm is a pioneer in
Canadian web world with a history that stretches back to 1995 and portfolio of
Canadian and international clients that includes Fortune 500 corporations,
government and the not-for-profit sector. For more information visit: www.purecobalt.com
Pure Cobalt Contact:
Spike Stockdale
514.933.4591
spike@purecobalt.com
About the Alzheimer Society
Through a network of 39 chapters in Ontario communities,
the Alzheimer Society of Ontario offers help for today by
providing care and support for individuals and families living with Alzheimer's
disease and other dementias and hope for tomorrow
by fundraising for
a cure. Founded in 1983, the Society's vision is a world without Alzheimer's
disease.
Media contact:
Rosanne Meandro
Communications
Officer
Telephone: 416-847-8920
E-mail: rmeandro@alzheimeront.org
Web: www.alzheimerontario.org
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