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World Alzheimer's Month is recognized around the world in September.
More specifically, today is World Alzheimer’s Day and the Alzheimer Society of BC is calling attention to the many challenges that British Columbians living with dementia, as well as their caregivers and families, have experienced over the past year.
As part of a national federation, the Society is a leading authority on the disease in Canada.
Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that destroys brain cells, causing thinking ability and memory to deteriorate over time. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging, and is irreversible.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, people affected by dementia have experienced isolation and uncertainty, along with the loss of many of the services that they depend on.
“We understand the tremendous impact that this upheaval has had on many British Columbians affected by dementia,” said Jen Lyle, the Alzheimer Society of BC’s CEO.
The Alzheimer Society of BC’s message is that people living with dementia must have a role in shaping policies that will affect them, to ensure those policies are consistent with their changing needs in today's world.
“It is essential that we learn from people’s experiences over the past year to ensure we can build stronger, more inclusive services and systems,” explained Lyle.
Advocate Jim Mann, who is living with dementia and has worked at both the provincial and federal level to raise awareness of dementia issues, hopes these issues can remain top of mind for British Columbians.
“The more that we talk about issues associated with dementia, the more people will become aware of and accepting towards people in their communities who are living with it," he said.
The Alzheimer Society of BC is working to continue the conversation about dementia throughout World Alzheimer’s Month by offering weekly educational webinars.
Also, they initiated an upcoming virtual event where MLAs will have the opportunity to hear firsthand about the experiences of people living with dementia during the pandemic.
It is vitally important to continue to raise funds that allow the centre to offer critical programs and services to help people affected by Alzheimers, the society explains.
They created the tenth-annual Climb for Alzheimer’s, a fundraising event which started the beginning of the month and will end today. The funds raised will help the society provide support, education, and advocacy for families and enable research into the disease.
At least 70,000 British Columbians are living with dementia, and this number continues to increase.
To learn more about dementia or how you can support British Columbians on the dementia journey, click here.
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