Dear visitor,

January is Alzheimer Awareness Month.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, causing serious impairments on a person’s ability to think and to remember.

Every year as our population ages, an increasing number of seniors are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Did you know that today, 1 in 11 of Canada’s seniors has Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia?  Almost 170,000 Ontarians are living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia and in 15 years that number is expected to rise to 386,984.

I encourage all Ontarians to take this opportunity to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of the aging process, and it does more than affect an individual, it affects family and loved ones too. 

A new study undertaken by the Alzheimer Society of Canada in conjunction with RiskAnalytica reveals more data about the impacts of dementia on Canadian society. For further information, please visit the Alzheimer Society of Canada website at www.alzheimer.ca.

Ontario’s Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias was Canada’s first comprehensive strategy to support people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. The Strategy resulted in $13 million in ongoing funding for new or expanded respite programs, 50 new psycho-geriatric resource consultants, and 39 public education coordinators in local Alzheimer society chapters.  Please visit the Alzheimer Society of Ontario website at www.alzheimerontario.org for more information.

Throughout January, local Alzheimer society chapters in 56 communities across the province are hosting their signature fundraising event, “Manulife Walk for Memories”.  These walks are open to everyone and raise money to help fund research to find better treatments and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and support Ontarians living with dementia and their families.  To find a “Walk for Memories” in your community, please visit www.walkformemories.ca.

Sincerely,

Hon. Aileen Carroll
Minister Responsible for Seniors