Dementia cases set to triple; Alberta seeks better care coordination

With dementia cases in Alberta projected to triple by 2050, researchers and care advocates are calling for stronger provincial oversight and coordination of dementia care services.

More than 50,000 Albertans are currently living with dementia, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. That number is projected to reach nearly 200,000 by 2050.

Dr. Saskia Sivananthan, founder and CEO of the Brainwell Institute, said one of the biggest challenges facing patients and families is navigating what she described as a fragmented system, marked by long waits to obtain a clear diagnosis and confusion about what services are available.

"It seems no matter which province you're in, all people are really struggling to know how to access dementia services," Sivananthan said. "They're waiting up to a year, if not more, just to get a clear diagnosis."

Research by the Brainwell Institute has found that centralized coordination has improved care outcomes for people living with major health conditions such as cancer and stroke. But similar provincial accountability does not exist for dementia care despite the growing number of people affected.

Alzheimer Calgary spokesperson Eleanor Finger echoed the need for better coordination, arguing that many of the challenges faced by patients stem from a fragmented system. "What we know is this is a system-level problem," she said. "It's about a lack of coordination in the system, and the lack of creating these pathways for dementia care that people can follow and be supported along their journey with the disease."

Simananthan said Alberta's ongoing health-care system restructuring presents an opportunity to build a provincewide model for dementia care coordination. Alzheimer Calgary is hosting a StillMe event to bring together people living with dementia, caregivers, health-care professionals and research leaders to discuss ways to improve care and access to support in Alberta.