Make Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Support a Priority: Brown

QUEEN’S PARK – This morning in the Legislature, Leader of the Official Opposition Patrick Brown asked the Acting Premier why the Liberal Government continues to ignore the unique needs of Ontario seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

More than half of the long-term care home residents in Ontario are reported to have a diagnosis of dementia.

“The government is well aware that there are over 200,000 senior citizens living with Alzheimer’s disease in Ontario,” said Leader Patrick Brown.  “Yet Ontario’s current ‘Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias’ is a webpage with four bullet points and no real action.”

Despite the government’s current Strategy for Alzheimer’s Disease referencing investments in long-term care homes for those with dementia, only six facilities in the province have units providing behavioural support for seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease.

“I’ve toured Memory Care Facilities and I saw first-hand what good care can mean to those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease,” Leader Patrick Brown continued.  “But what I heard and saw more often is a lack of commitment from this government to truly help those suffering.”

The previous five-year Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias expired in 2004, and was not renewed by the current Liberal Government.

Leader Patrick Brown concluded, “Enough expert panels, enough talk—you’ve had 12 years. The last report expired over a decade ago.  Will this government implement an updated strategy to educate, increase access and funding, and make Alzheimer’s and dementia a priority?”