Contact Barbara Lindsay, Manager of Advocacy & Public Policy, at 604-681-6530, toll-free at 1-800-667-3742, or e-mail to blindsay@alzheimerbc.org.

Welcome to this section about Transforming Dementia Care in B.C: Addressing gaps and improving care for British Columbians affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

In April 2005, a coalition of health-care professionals working with the B.C. government on Dementia and Chronic Disease Management, held B.C.’s first dementia health-care policy conference. This event brought together health-care professionals from a variety of disciplines and specialties related to dementia, as well as people with dementia and family caregivers.

The conference resulted in acknowledging the need for a clear vision for dementia care in B.C., and set out action steps for achieving this goal. For additional background information, click here.

CONFERENCE PARTNERS

• The Alzheimer Society of B.C.
• Ministry of Health Services (Home and Community Care, and Chronic Disease Management Group)
• Gerontology Research Centre at Simon Fraser University
• BC Medical Association
• Provincial Health Services Authority
• Interior Health Authority
• Northern Health Authority
• Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
• Vancouver Island Health Authority

IMPORTANT LINKS
Please review the materials in this section. We welcome your feedback and ideas for future action.

• Transforming Dementia Care in B.C. final report
• Transforming Dementia Care in B.C. delegate handbook
• The Alzheimer Journey: map
• Alzheimer Journey Legend: Gaps and Solutions
• Call To Action, presentation by Rosemary Rawnsley, Alzheimer Society of B.C.
• Dementia Guidelines Within A CDM Framework, presentation by Dr. Chris Rauscher
• Dementia in B.C., presentation by Dr. Howard Platt
• The Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA), presentation by Dr. Lynn Beattie
• ElderHealth Dementia Pathway, presentation by Dr. David Gayton and Gina Gaspard, RN
• Summary of Gaps, presentation by Dr. Martha Donnelly
• British Columbia Dementia Services Inventory

BACKGROUND
Transforming Dementia Care in B.C. was established to highlight the importance of taking action now to improve dementia care in B.C.

With the aging of the Baby Boomers and increased awareness of the disease, the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are rising. There are 63,480 people in B.C. with dementia, with nearly 13,640 new people developing the disease each year.

The Ministry of Health is committed to a chronic disease management approach to meet the growing demands on existing dementia care programs. Transforming Dementia Care in B.C., is a first step in achieving the goal of implementing a Service Framework for Dementia Care in B.C.

Although our understanding of dementia has grown tremendously over the last decade, here in B.C. we need to:

• Increase our knowledge about how to diagnose and treat the disease,
• Make system improvements, and,
• Advance health outcomes.

It is time to establish a province-wide consensus that this disease is a priority among B.C.’s broad group of health professionals and leaders.

A coordinated service framework of care, spanning the primary and community health-care systems and supported by the regional health authorities, is critical to achieving our common goal: excellent dementia education across the continuum and high quality care delivered to people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the years ahead.

This health policy conference on dementia was a vital first step toward realizing this goal.