RADAR | THE LOCALER
Reimagining Dementia Care
An inspired entrepreneur demonstrates how community-driven care can make all the difference.
By Jody Robbins
When Andrew Karesa discusses blueBell Village, there’s an easy sincerity in his voice, the kind that comes from lived experience. Inspired by his grandmother’s Alzheimer’s journey, the Alberta entrepreneur and member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation set out to create dementia care rooted in compassion, culture and community. He founded blueBell Village, a dementia care company that helps with support care beyond medical treatment, serving families in Calgary and Edmonton. Karesa recognized the growing challenge: with an aging population and increasing pressure on public health systems, caregivers are taking on more responsibility than ever. According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, one in five Canadians provides unpaid care to someone living with dementia. More than 770,000 Canadians live with dementia; that number is expected to reach one million by 2030.
Launched in 2023, the company’s blueBell Connect is a web-based dementia care coordination platform. It offers clinically valid, culturally grounded support to everyone involved in a patient’s network of care. Karesa says it helps ensure people living with dementia receive care that is correct, appropriate and aligned with their cultural identity. “What we need is to give caregivers the best tools and chances for them to be successful,” he says. “And that’s what blueBell Connect is about.”
The communication tool offers clinically informed suggestions based on real-world data, and it customizes activities and techniques to support the patient’s dignity and well-being.
Karesa’s commitment reaches far beyond the platform. After fielding countless questions from caregivers, he created The Dementia Collective podcast, which offers practical advice, steady support and shared insight.
“All our platforms revolve around destigmatizing dementia and caring for the people we love,” he says.
At every stage, Indigenous values shape Karesa’s approach with blueBell. “[It’s] care for our community by our community. Let’s rely on ourselves. Let’s re-stimulate the Indigenous economy. That’s what ultimately my work and blueBell revolve around.”
Andrew Karesa is the founder of blueBell Village. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF ANDREW KARESA
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond? We’d love to hear about them. Email us your nominations and they could be our featured Localer in an upcoming issue.
RADAR | PLAYLIST
What Songs Do You Road-Trip to, Trevor Mann?
Not only did Edmonton’s Trevor Mann assemble a fabulously eclectic playlist for us, but he also titled it: behold Home on the Highway. The ace singer-guitarist in the band Scenic Route to Alaska explains: “Built for long drives, Home on the Highway is a celebration of our peers and fellow Canadian artists who remind us that travel is about connection, not just the destination.” Mann adds, “Our band wouldn’t have made it this far without the support of our community, and these songs have been a constant reminder that home isn’t always a place — it’s a feeling you can carry with you wherever you go.” –Kim Hughes
Singer-guitarist Trevor Mann is from Edmonton. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF DALE BAILEY
We are providing a preview of the artist’s playlist. The full playlist can be experienced directly on Spotify with a free account. Songs may not be appropriate for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.