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Canadians face the Rising Tide of dementia

As the New Year tolled in 2010, Canadians were faced with startling news that we are about to face an epidemic of dementia that will overwhelm the national healthcare system and devastate the economy within one generation unless significant policy changes are made.

The report released by the Alzheimer's Society of Canada, entitled Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society, predicts a surge of dementia among Canada’s aging population that will cost the Canadian economy $135 billion a year by 2038.

The report stresses the necessity of a comprehensive national response, focused on reducing costs by keeping Canadians out of long-term care facilities.

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Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean. - Ryunosuke Satoro

On November 26th the Geriatric Medicine Research Unit (GMRU) in conjunction with the Canadian Dementia Knowledge Translation Network (CDKTN) hosted Think Tank 2009: Dementia Care in Nova Scotia.

In attendance were over 60 representatives from all facets of dementia care in Nova Scotia including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, administrators, volunteers, industry representatives, policy makers, and researchers.

The objective of the Think Tank was to engage potential research-users in the creation of a research agenda in the area of dementia care. As a result, we hope to create a program that is responsive to the needs of those in policy and practice.

As well as exchanging knowledge in this vital and important topic, it is our hope that this forum will create collaborations and relationships that extend well past this one day event.

A report based on the information shared by all participants in this Think Tank will be produced by the GMRU and will be made available on this website in the near future.

News:

Congratulations to Dr. Kenneth Rockwood the recipient of the DoM 2009 Achievement Award.

We also extend our best wishes to Dr. Sultan Darvesh on his promotion to Professor, Divisions of Neurology and Geriatric Medicine.

In addition, congratulations go out to Drs. Laurie Mallery & Paige Moorhouse the 2008-09 DoM Grand Rounds Award winner for the Division of Geriatric Medicine.