Canada tries again for national dementia strategy

Canadian lawmakers introduced a bill today to form a national strategy to grapple with the social, economic and medical costs of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. In 2015, similar legislation was voted down by a single vote.

Today’s bipartisan legislation reflects the desire of the majority of Canadians to have a national approach to dementia—83 percent think the problem needs to be a national initiative, says the Alzheimer Society of Canada. The organization has proposed a government-backed coalition, the Canadian Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Partnership to help researchers, providers and private-sector companies join forces and work together.

“We strongly believe that a national dementia strategy that focuses on research, prevention and improved care is the only solution to tackling the devastating impact of this disease,” said Mimi Lowi-Young, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Canada, in support of today’s bill introduction. “We’re ready to collaborate with our federal, provincial and territorial partners to make this a reality.”

Alzheimer’s-related dementia is expected to affect 1.4 million Canadians by 2030.

Pamela Tabar

Pamela Tabar was editor-in-chief of I Advance Senior Care from 2013-2018. She has worked as a writer and editor for healthcare business media since 1998, including as News Editor of Healthcare Informatics. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of York, England.