QUESTION PERIOD — Health
Providing Care to Those Living with Dementia
February 18, 2020
Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.
Senator Gold, we know that seniors are the fastest growing demographic in Canada. By 2037, the number of seniors will reach 9.6 million, representing close to one quarter of Canada’s population. On average, nine seniors are diagnosed with dementia every hour in Canada. After the age of 65, the risk of being diagnosed with dementia doubles every five years.
Some communities with high numbers of seniors are becoming overwhelmed with these numbers, including the Waterloo region in my province of Ontario. It is expected that Waterloo will see a 34% increase in dementia diagnoses by the end of this year alone. That will have a significant impact on hospitals and long-term care facilities and, of course, on patients and their caregivers, many of whom are family members and predominantly women.
Senator Gold, we likely all know someone in our families or communities who have been touched by dementia and the strain that can place on caregivers. Can you tell us what the government is doing to respond to this emerging challenge in order to support people living with dementia and their caregivers?
I thank the honourable senator for the question.
I’m sure everybody in this chamber shares the concern that you’ve expressed, not only for those who suffer from dementia but for the families and caregivers who take care of them. I’m advised that the government takes this seriously as a matter of principle and importance to the country.
To answer the question more tangibly, I’m advised that the government has been increasing funding to a number of programs. That includes the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which is a federal grants and contributions program that was launched in 2004 to support projects that help improve the well-being and quality of life of seniors generally. In Budget 2019, there was an additional $100 million committed over five years for that project.
With regard to more specific projects, I have been advised as well that the government recently committed $3 million through that project for another project in the Waterloo area which will attempt to bridge the gaps between research, education and practice by fostering and supporting intergenerational relationships between students, educators and community members, including, of course, seniors who live with mild to moderate dementia and their caregivers.
In addition, I have been advised that, in 2018, the government launched the Dementia Community Investment fund to specifically support community-based projects aimed at improving health and well-being. I would be happy to share more of those details with you on another occasion. I’m sure there are many people waiting to ask questions of me. Thank you for your question.
