On 17 June 2019, the Government of Canada announced that it has launched a national dementia strategy, titled “A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Aspire”. It includes a dedicated budget of CAD 3 million in 2019 (fiscal year) and CAD 12 million in each of the subsequent 4 years, which will be crucial in ensuring plans can realistically be implemented. To help ensure that the strategy meets the needs of people living with dementia and their carers, the Government of Canada included the Alzheimer Society of Canada and a number of people living with dementia in its multi-stakeholder consultation process.
The strategy includes key targets for improving awareness, access to care, support and treatment, research and risk-reduction of dementia by 2025. The primary target of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s “Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025” is to have 146 of the 194 WHO Member States develop a national response plan to dementia by 2025. The target is currently falling far short of hopes, but the launch of Canada’s plan brings it one step closer. You can read the full strategy, here:
