After going through
the Baycrest 2046
Challenge, Caplansky
said the full realization
that cognitive decline
or brain diseases like
dementia can strip
away "cherished
memories" from an
individual has galvanized
him to help in the fight
against dementia. He
also came away from
the challenge a changed
person, with a deeper
appreciation of what it
is like to age.
"I know this has
increased my empathy
for people – either
themselves, or as
caregivers to someone with dementia or age-related
decline. I now see that it's one thing to rationally
understand what's happening; it's another thing to
actually come close to what that might feel like by
participating in this challenge," Caplansky says.
Caplansky notes that while Canadians can look
around and say "we're an aging society" we also
need to recognize we're all going to age. He notes it
is a good thing to connect with how one might feel in
30 years' time, and to be able to better prepare for
that eventuality.
"Empathy is a really powerful and important emotion
to live by," he states. "To be able to understand
someone when you look at them – in this case an
older adult – and be able to feel what it's like to be
that person… if I can have some insight about this,
maybe I can be a better partner, a better husband,
a better son, grandson."
To sponsor Caplansky and support Baycrest,
visit his personal fundraising page
at baycrest.org/brainmatters/2046
"It's great to see that
Baycrest has done such a
wonderful job in the brain
research area; being able to
offer brain health solutions
back to the community."
BrainMatters SPRING 2017 7
