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Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementia

• Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias
   
• Executive Summary and Strategy document  
   
• For a snapshot of where each initiative stands, please see the "Implementation Status Update".
  

Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementia

Alzheimer Disease is the most common dementia affecting elderly people. It is a deteriorating brain disease that eventually kills. In Ontario, more than 100,000 people live with the disease; 90 per cent of those are over the age of 65. With Ontario's growing and aging population, it is expected that Alzheimer Disease and related dementias will increase significantly in coming years.

The Ontario government is investing $68.4 million (over five years from 1999 to 2004) in Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias. This is the first comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy on Alzheimer Disease to be introduced in Canada. The Strategy consists of a 10-point action plan designed to help people with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias, their caregivers and families.

Implementation of the Strategy is proceeding as planned. The 10 initiatives are:

1. Staff Education and Training
2. Physician Training
3. Increasing Public Awareness, Information and Education
4. Planning for Appropriate, Safe and Secure Environments
5. Respite Services for Caregivers
6. Research on Caregiver Needs
7. Advance Directives on Care Choices
8. Psychogeriatric Consulting Resources
9. Co-ordinated Specialized Diagnosis and Support
10. Intergenerational Volunteer Inititiative

Initiative #1 Staff Education and Training

A work group including service providers, caregiver advocates and clinicians has developed an annual training program. To date, over 2,500 staff from long-term care facilities, community care access centres, community support programs and supportive housing programs have received specialized training. For more information, go to www.piecescanada.com and www.u-first.ca or visit the Ontario Community Support Association website at: www.ocsa.on.ca.

Initiative #2 Physician Training

Training programs are being developed for family physicians and medical students on early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease and related dementias and on best use of local and specialized resources, and advance care planning. For more information, contact the Ontario College of Family Physicians at (416) 867-9646.

Initiative #3 Increasing Public Awareness, Information and Education

Each of the 39 local Alzheimer Societies across Ontario was funded to hire a public education coordinator to help raise awareness of the disease and support community efforts to help people with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias. For information on the public education coordinator in your area please contact your local Alzheimer chapter or go to www.alzheimerontario.org.

Initiative # 4 Planning for Appropriate, Safe and Secure Environments.

Creative design of long-term care facilities for people with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias has been the subject of four annual conferences held through a partnership of the Ontario government, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program of the University of Waterloo. Approximately 1,700 people participated in these learning events. Conference proceedings are available at www.marep.uwaterloo.ca.

Initiative # 5 Respite Services for Caregivers

The government has provided new funding to 84 community agencies across the province to expand or enhance adult day programs and in-home respite programs. As a result of this new funding, thousands of families are receiving a much needed respite from their caregiving role.

Initiative # 6 Research on Caregiver Needs

The Alzheimer Society of Ontario , the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program and the Caregivers’ Association of Ontario conducted research on the key community supports caregivers need. A literature review, a survey of over 2,300 community-based caregivers and 14 focus groups with caregivers and care providers were completed. A report highlighting preliminary survey results is available at www.marep.uwaterloo.ca.

The University of Waterloo have recently launched an on-line resource network for alzheimer researchers, policy makers and caregivers which will promote and increase exchange and collaboration and will profile the work of Canadian researchers.

Initiative # 7 Advance Directives on Care Choices

This initiative aims to educate seniors about the benefits of advance care planning - making important choices about their future care, to ensure that their medical and care choices are respected should they become incapable of making those decisions. A booklet, A Guide to Advance Care Planning, was released in March 2002 and is available at local Alzheimer Society of Ontario chapters, or from the Ontario Seniors’ Infoline (416-314-7511 or 1-888-910-1999). Public education and training sessions are being delivered by specially trained local staff to seniors, persons affected by dementia and substitute decision-makers and health care providers. To date, over 130 sessions have been held throughout the province.

For information on upcoming public education and training sessions, visit www.citizenship.gov.on.caseniors/english/advancecaretraining.htm, or contact your local Alzheimer chapter.

Initiative # 8 Psychogeriatric Consulting Resources

Fifty new psychogeriatric consulting resource positions were created to provide support for staff serving persons with dementia, including those with challenging behaviours, and individuals with complex cognitive/mental health needs. These consulting resources are available across Ontario to workers in long-term care facilities, community care access centres, community support agencies and other community partners.

Initiative # 9 Co-ordinated Specialized Diagnosis and Support

9A. Dementia Networks
Local dementia networks are being developed throughout the province to help communities develop local support networks for diagnostic and treatment services for Alzheimer clients and their families. A booklet, A Guide to Developing a Dementia Network has been distributed regionally.

Ontario's Alzheimer Strategy has provided the direction for the coordination and promotion of services for persons, families and caregivers living with dementia through the creation of new networks or the maintenance of existing dementia networks across Ontario.

As a component of Initiative #9 - Coordinated Specialized Diagnosis of the Alzheimer Strategy, the provincial Dementia Networks Advisory Committee has introduced a web site to act as a vehicle for information-sharing between dementia networks. In this dementia network web site you will find resources to facilitate information-sharing about dementia networks in Ontario.

9B. Research Coalition
This initiative is directed towards bringing together researchers with diverse academic/methodological backgrounds with representation from all regions. The Research Coalition will plan, coordinate and monitor collaborative multidisciplinary Alzheimer research projects. A Steering Committee has been formed to guide the establishment of the dementia research coalition and has developed a strategic direction document entitled, The Path Forward: a Strategic Direction for The Ontario Research Coalition on Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias - 2002 - 2004.

Initiative # 10 Intergenerational Volunteer Initiative

Secondary school students are being paired with well seniors to act as volunteers – visiting and assisting people with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias in long-term care facilities and community programs. The Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and United Generations Ontario, received funding to recruit and train students in 27 locations across the province. The Trillium Foundation has provided additional funding to enable this successful intergenerational program to continue. For more information, contact the Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario at 1-866-835-7693.