“Health advocacy groups and MPs are cheering the Liberal government’s proposal to spend $50 million over five years to support a national dementia strategy that’s to be released later this spring”.  (Kirsty Kirkup, Toronto Star, March 21, 2019).

This is welcome news for those of us who have been pleading for a national strategy to better support family caregivers at a time when Canada’s population is rapidly aging.  According to the Alzheimer Society, this will mean spending $3 million in 2019-20 and $12 million in the following fiscal years.  It is an important step toward helping affected families live better lives when the number of Canadians living with dementia is expected to double within 15 years, and cost of care will rise from $10.4 to $16.6 billion.

As reported in the last update, the Canadian Association of Retired Persons has also started advocating for better supports to seniors and their families during this election year.  Its new FACES campaign advocates for:

F – FINANCIAL SECURITY

A – ABUSE PREVENTION

C – CAREGIVING AND HOUSING SUPPORTS

E – EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH CARE

S – SOCIAL INCLUSION

From the latest news, it is clear that Ottawa is listening, but we must do whatever we can to strengthen our message as much as possible.  We need to advocate on behalf of vulnerable Canadians and their family caregivers by promoting FACES as well as this petition.  If possible, we can also consider taking advantage of a special membership offer from CARP by following this link.

Salvatore (Sal) Amenta, PhD

Photo courtesy of CARP.