‘It takes a village’: New community partnership exploring ways to help those with dementia to live well

OSHAWA, ONTARIO – As a prevalent and widening health-care issue, dementia poses substantial challenges for hundreds of thousands of Canadians and their families. With demographics trending toward an aging population on the near horizon, dementia will almost certainly affect more and more Canadians in the coming decades:

• A 2022 Alzheimer Society of Canada study projects the number of people living with dementia in Canada will triple by 2050.
• For every person in Canada who has dementia, a family member or friend will spend an average of 26 hours a week caring for them.
• By the end of this decade, close to 24,000 people in Durham Region will be living with dementia.

Generally, people living with dementia prefer to remain living in their homes for as long as possible while continuing to access community-based and home-based care supports and services. Still, many families experience burnout and emotional distress from caregiving duties.

Alzheimer Society Durham Region (ASDR) believes that people should be encouraged to live well with dementia. However, in Durham Region, there is a lack of intentionally built dementia-friendly community spaces that are safe and inclusive for people living with dementia and their care partners to engage in social, recreational, physical, and cognitively stimulating activities.

Call to action: ASDR and Ontario Tech University’s Brilliant Catalyst unveil concept design for a Dementia Village

The encouraging news is there are solutions under development in the community, whose outcomes could offer promise and hope. Through a new ASDR partnership agreement with Ontario Tech University, ASDR envisions the creation of a ‘Dementia Village’. The idea calls for a unique, dementia-friendly community space that is accessible, safe, inclusive, and promotes activity, socialization, research initiatives, and training programs to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their care partners.

On March 22, 2024, ASDR reviewed design presentations for the Dementia Village, developed by Ontario Tech students participating in the Brilliant Work-Integrated Learning program. This opportunity, hosted by Ontario Tech University’s entrepreneurship and innovation hub, Brilliant Catalyst, is provided through the Experience Ventures program. The student designs consider a wide range of criteria, including accessibility, transportation and cost, and considerations such as language and culture.

The Dementia Village would also function as a learning environment to support teaching and training for Ontario Tech students as well as research initiatives to advance dementia care. With Ontario being the most diverse province in Canada, the partnership will address the current lack of dementia research focusing on the experiences of diverse groups and racialized communities.

About Alzheimer Society Durham Region

For more than four decades, ASDR has provided support and resources in the local community for thousands of families as they navigate the difficult path in caring for a loved one living with dementia. Each year, ASDR supports nearly 4,000 individuals impacted by dementia. As a registered charity and non-profit organization, ASDR relies on funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as well as donations and fundraising initiatives to deliver programs and services across Durham Region.

Quotes

“ASDR has long recognized the value and significant impact that social and recreational programs can have on the lives of people living with dementia and their care partners. These programs provide cognitive stimulation, encourage peer support, relationship building, and a sense of purpose and belonging for our clients, as well as much-needed respite for care partners. We are excited to partner with Ontario Tech University on the development of a Dementia Village to bring an innovative solution to dementia care in our community. This community space would function as a hub for program delivery, research, and training to ensure that all people living with dementia in Durham Region have access to the best care possible – now and in the future.“
-Gillian Barrie, CEO, Alzheimer Society Durham Region

“Canada’s health-care system is just beginning to explore a holistic approach to health care combining social and medical models of wellness that encourages people living with dementia and their care partners to engage in activities to meet their non-clinical needs. Ontario Tech is delighted to work with Alzheimer Society Durham Region on the Dementia Village, an exciting initiative that also establishes the framework for the development and implementation of future community solutions.”
-Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ontario Tech University

Media contacts

Amanda McCawley
Communications and Marketing
Alzheimer Society Durham Region
289.278.8952
amccawley@alzheimerdurham.com

Bryan Oliver
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
289.928.3653 (mobile)
bryan.oliver@ontariotechu.ca

Gallery

Previous media items Next media items