By 2030, it is estimated that approximately 21 people will be diagnosed with dementia every hour.
A recent report estimates that more than one million Canadians will have dementia by 2030.
Dr. Joshua Armstrong, a research scientist at the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, told The Rob Snow Show on Sept. 7 that this increase is due to the aging of the baby boomer population.
As more Canadians are diagnosed with cognitive illness (by 2030, it is estimated that approximately 21 people will be diagnosed with dementia every hour), there will be a growing need for care, including better training on how to interact with someone with dementia
He explained that dementia is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that affect cognition and are often associated with aging. Alzheimer’s dementia is the most common, but as people age, there’s usually more than one neurological challenge, leading to what Armstrong calls “mixed dementia.”
The type of care depends on the individual, she explained, with some needing 24-hour assistance and others still able to function independently.
“But as the dementia gets worse, they’re going to need more and more support,” Armstrong said, adding that the challenge is not knowing how quickly the decline will occur.
“Some people, dementia gets worse at a faster rate, or sometimes it takes more than a decade,” he said.
Armstrong said most people with dementia prefer to live at home until their dementia is advanced and requires more care.
“When they live at home, they rely on their family, friends and neighbors for care and support,” she said. “So as we have an increasing number of people living with dementia, we will have an increasing number of care partners who will also need their own support to deal with the challenges of caregiving.”
Listen to the full interview with Dr. Joshua Armstrong below: