Alzheimer Disease is the most common dementia affecting elderly people, although it has also been diagnosed in those as young as 40. It is a deteriorating brain disease that eventually kills. In Ontario, more than 100,000 people live with the disease, 90 per cent of whom 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 promised to listen carefully to those affected by Alzheimer Disease and respond with a co-ordinated strategy to address this devastating disease. The resulting Alzheimer Strategy - the first of its kind in Canada - is the result of broad consultation with key stakeholders across the province. Over 180 submissions were received in response to the government's draft strategy released March 4, 1999.

Ontario's unprecedented multi-year investment of $1.2 billion in long-term care services has already led to increased service for individuals and families coping with the effects of Alzheimer Disease and related dementias. The Alzheimer Strategy is an important, complementary step and outlines the government's action plan to better meet the needs of Ontarians with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias, as well as their caregivers and families.

The Ontario Government will invest $68.4 million in this comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy over the next five years.

1. Staff Education and Training
   $1.1 million per annum

• Annual training program open to staff of each long-term care facility and Community Care Access Centre, and staff in Adult Day Programs and supportive housing serving people with Alzheimer Disease.
• A task force will be struck to assess additional training approaches such as video conferencing and Internet-based learning.

2. Physician Training
   $0.5 million per annum

• Family doctors will have the opportunity to receive training to assist them in the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease and related dementias, optimal prescribing practices and how best to use local community services.

3. Increase in Public Awareness, Information and Education
   $1.1 million initially, rising to $1.8 million per annum in 2000/2001 and onward

• Hiring of one public education co-ordinator for each of Ontario's 39 local Alzheimer Societies to raise awareness of the disease, recruit volunteers, develop and facilitate caregiver support groups and coordinate training events.

4. Planning for Appropriate, Safe and Secure Environments
   $0.05 million per annum

• The government will finance and co-host annual conferences with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Project to explore the creative and functional design of living space for people with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias, as well as optimal models of care and appropriate improvements in home environments.

5. Respite Services for Caregivers
   $3 million initially, rising to $7 million per annum in 2000/2001 and onward

• The province will fund the creation of new Alzheimer day program spaces and the expansion of Alzheimer volunteer respite programs.
• From April 1995 to March 1998, the government increased annual spending on long-term care community services by $225 million. From April 1998 to March 2006, annual spending on long-term care community services will increase by an additional $551 million.

6. Research on Caregiver Needs
   $0.1 million in 1999/2000, $0.4 million in 2000/2001

• The research will determine what key community support services are needed by caregivers. Results will be used to determine how to expand community support services in the future.
• The province will explore opportunities for private sector partnerships for this research grant.

7. Advance Directives on Care Choices
   $0.05 million in 1999/2000, $0.65 million in 2000/2001

• A broad consultation with key stakeholders will be held on a provincial policy on advance directives for care choices.
• Following the consultation, educational materials will be produced and appropriate training will be provided to ensure consistency in the policy's application.
• Completion of an advance directive on care choices will be voluntary and will not be a requirement for admission to any provincially funded health care facility.
• The province will also pursue private and public sector partnerships for the development and dissemination of educational materials.

8. Psychogeriatric Consulting Resources
   $2 million initially, rising to $4.55 million per annum in 2001/2002 and onward

• New funding to employ 40 experts (with an additional 10 experts in 2001/2002) to advise staff in long-term care centres and community service agencies on how to work with people who exhibit difficult or aggressive behaviour.

9. Co-ordinated Specialized Diagnosis and Support
   Policy review under way - resources to be determined

• Following consultation, local support networks will be designed to provide Alzheimer clients and families with more consistent and accessible specialized diagnostic and treatment services.
• A coalition of researchers, service providers and associations will be explored to plan and monitor Alzheimer research.
• A collaborative effort is now under way to refine the scope and mandate of specialized geriatric services to make their expertise more readily available to people with Alzheimer Disease and their families.

10. Intergenerational Volunteer Initiative
    $0.5 million in 1999/2000

• Funding will support the recruitment, training and support of students in grades 11 and 12 who volunteer with individuals with Alzheimer Disease and related dementias at long-term care centres and community agencies. Students will be consulted to determine how best to acknowledge their voluntary contributions.

REPORT Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias :  Preparing for our Future 48 pages | 174 K | PDF format

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