Dementia-Friendly Canada

Lead Organization

Alzheimer Society of Canada

Location

Canada-wide with the project manager located in Vancouver, British Columbia

What is this project about and why is it important?

This project is supported by the Canadian Dementia Learning and Resource Network at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada under the Dementia Community Investment (DCI). These funded projects are actively developing and testing tools, resources, and approaches to promote the well-being of persons living with dementia and care partners.

The Dementia-Friendly Canada project is a partnership between Alzheimer Societies across the country. The project is intended to grow dementia-friendly communities by creating a truly nation-wide impact. 

The project enables community involvement and increased quality of life for persons living with dementia and their care partners by ensuring that:

  •  all Canadians living with dementia feel valued and empowered,
  •  organizations are inclusive and accessible, and
  • everyone uses their awareness of dementia to make changes, individually and as a society, that challenge the stigma and ensure that all people can live well. 

The Dementia-Friendly Canada project expands on the work already being done in the partnering provinces to create tools, education and programming that will allow for the development of dementia-friendly communities across the country.

Who is this project for?

The Dementia-Friendly Canada project provides educational opportunities for the general public and professionals working in the community to mobilize them to champion dementia-friendly principles wherever they go. An emphasis is placed on providing specific resources designed for professionals working in the recreation, library, retail, restaurant and public transportation sectors.

Resources this project has created

3 Key Takeaways

  1. We all have a role to play in creating dementia-friendly communities: places where people living with dementia, their families and care partners feel included and supported.
  2. It is critical that everything we do as part of the Dementia-Friendly Canada project is guided by the voices of people living with dementia and care partners. We are also committed to building tools and resources that stem from best practices and can be easily utilized across the country.
  3. The Dementia-Friendly Canada project has three main goals:
    • To train Canada’s workforce to be dementia friendly.
    • Promoting and educating the general public about dementia through awareness campaigns and resources.
    • Achieve sustainability and ensure growth of the Dementia-Friendly Canada initiative across the country.

Project Details

Duration: 2020 – 2023

Organization Lead(s): Alzheimer Society of Canada

Project Team:

  • Heather Cowie, National Project Manager, Dementia-Friendly Canada & Strategic Lead, Dementia-Friendly Communities, Alzheimer Society of British Columbia

  • Barbara Lindsay, Director Advocacy and Education & Marketing & Communication, Alzheimer Society of British Columbia & Executive Administrator, Dementia-Friendly Canada

  • Jennifer Perry, Manager, Advocacy & Education, Alzheimer Society of British Columbia

  • Sana Aziz, Provincial Coordinator, Dementia-Friendly Communities, Alzheimer Society of British Columbia

  • Jennifer Vicente-Licardo, Education Manager, Alzheimer Society of Manitoba

  • Maggie Scanlon, Program Manager, Provincial Programs and Partnerships, Alzheimer Society of Ontario

  • Susan Oster, Coordinator, Dementia Friendly Communities, Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners

Project Partner(s):

For More Information

Dementia-Friendly Canada

This project is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada under the Dementia Community Investment (DCI).

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