January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: learn more

Notice: Use of undefined constant ICL_LANGUAGE_CODE - assumed 'ICL_LANGUAGE_CODE' in /home/uwlmmydev/public_html/wp-content/themes/omega-child-theme/single.php on line 30
3 January 2014

Jim Mann, advocate and Alzheimer Society Board Member, and Maria Howard, CEO, Alzheimer Society of B.C. are presented with a proclamation from Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.

70,000 British Columbians are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. This number is set to double within the next 25 years. The social, emotional and financial impacts of dementia are felt by everyone — those with the disease, their families, caregivers and communities. January is Alzheimer Awareness month hosted by the Alzheimer Society of B.C. The Society helps British Columbians with dementia and their families by offering information, support and education at every stage of the disease. The Society has asked the provincial government to establish a comprehensive, funded dementia strategy. Countries like the United Kingdom, France, Australia and the United States already have dementia plans in place. Aging baby boomers will fuel the number of British Columbians with dementia, but people in their 40s and 50s are also being affected. Changes in the brain that lead to dementia can occur up to 25 years before symptoms appear. Alzheimer’s disease remains incurable and its causes are not fully known. Available medications help manage the symptoms, but none can stop, slow or reverse the disease process. We all need to be better informed about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and work to create more supportive and inclusive communities. Last fall, United Way published a handbook for caregivers of seniors with information on topics such as health issues – like dementia – housing, and legal concerns.

Topics : Uncategorized