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14 Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, September 24, 2015 | THE IMPENDING WAVE by LAURA DASILVA A TIDAL WAVE place. Earlier this of dementia is about to year, a single vote engulf Canada's aging popu- could have changed that. On May 6, Nickel Belt MP lation. Today, 747,000 Canadians Claude Gravelle tabled private are living with dementia, including member's Bill C-356 Respecting Alzheimer's disease. This number is a National Strategy for Dementia. expected to increase to 1.4 million by end The bill was defeated in a vote of 140 of 2031, according to Alzheimer Society of to 139 in the House of Commons after Liberal MP Yvonne Jones failed to Canada (ASC). stand up and register her Annual costs of dementia will vote. increase from $33 billion "It was heartbreaktoday to $293 billion by 2040 ing to see we lost this says ASC, posing an oververy important stratwhelming threat to the counegy because one Libtry's health-care system and eral MP was not payeconomy. ing attention," Gravelle Mimi Lowi-Young, the A METROLAND said. CEO of ASC, is pushing for The deciding vote MEDIA SERIES a national dementia strategy could have also come that will prevent persons living PART 1 OF 3 from Conservative MP Joe with dementia and their caregivers from being pulled into the undertow of this Preston who initially voted in favour, but then changed his vote to a nay. wave. Gravelle was inspired to champion a She calls dementia a "non-partisan issue and health priority" and has asked the strategy after watching his mother battle main political parties to include a nation- Alzheimer's disease until her death in 2003. "When my mom had dementia, we didn't al dementia strategy in their platforms leading up to the Oct. 19 federal elec- know enough," he said. "We didn't understand it tion. ASC also just launched its `Raise and at the time we thought it was just age. But it's your Voice' civic engagement cam- not age, it's a disease." Though she voted against Gravelle's paign to encourage those affected by dementia to speak to candi- bill, in October 2014 Health Minister dates about why a national Rona Ambrose announced $31.5 million in funding for Alzheimer's research and strategy is so critical. With just under a month committed to working toward a national to go until voting day, the strategy to fight the "impending loom" of NDP have pledged to invest dementia. $40 million over four years THE 2015 FEDERAL BUDGET in a Canada-wide strategy, includes a commitment to continue focusing on screening, diag- supporting innovation in health care nosis, support and research. and dementia research. The governThe Green Party, through its ment proposes to provide up to $42 National Seniors Strategy, has >>>WORKING, page 15 also committed to a national plan for dementia - though no funding details have been announced. Currently, Canada is the only G7 country without a national plan in SENIORS + DEMENTIA Mobilizing policymakers and stakeholders `critical' to addressing influx of dementia cases among seniors + Photo/ALLEN AGOSTINO 6 3 4 5 6 Mimi Lowi-Young is CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. objectives for a national strategy on dementia According to Mimi Lowi-Young, Alzheimer Society of Canada CEO, key objectives of a national dementia strategy should include: 1 Increasing investment in research, fostering collaboration and improving 2 Providing a surveillance system and evidence-based information on knowledge exchange and translation. all aspects of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias to inform best practices. Enhancing the competency and capacity of those delivering dementia care. Increasing awareness about dementia risk factors, early diagnosis and timely interventions. Strengthening the integration and co-ordination of care and service delivery across the health-care continuum. Recognizing family caregiver needs and developing supports that provide options and flexibility. To learn more, visit www.alzheimer.ca AT THE TABLE DEMENTIA ADVISORY GROUP GIVES A VOICE TO THOSE AFFECTED A fervent group of people living with dementia is out to prove life does not end with a diagnosis. The Ontario Dementia Advisory Group (ODAG) was formed in 2014 with the purpose of giving people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias a voice in shaping Ontario's healthcare policy. The five-member group is erasing the assumption that people living with dementia are unable to communicate their needs, wants and perspectives. They are working with the provincial government to develop an Ontario dementia strategy that will impact the province's aging population. Mary Beth Wighton is a retired owner of a recruiting firm. She was diagnosed with probable frontotemporal dementia in 2012 at age 45. As a member of ODAG, she shares the triumphs and challenges she faces with her partner and daughter through writing and speaking engagements. Here's what she has to say: ` Photo/KEVIN BARRIE If you don't hear it from the people experiencing it, they just become numbers on a spreadsheet. ` Mary Beth Wighton at 2014 Walk for Alzheimer's in Kitchener. Wouldn't you As soon as rather put in you switch from a ramp and your home into some dementia- long-term care, friendly devices your finances are in a home, than out the window. put someone in a room? Read the full story online at yorkregion.com/dementia ` +