About us

Overview

Founded in 1983, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario (ASO) is the province's leading care and research charity committed to helping people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia by

1. Providing care, support, information and education for people living with dementia
2. Funding research to find a cure
3. Advocating for educated and qualified care and services
4. Increasing awareness of dementia and its impact on the whole family

With a network of 39 Chapters across Ontario, we offer Help for Today through our programs and services for people living with dementia and Hope for Tomorrow… by funding research to find the cause and the cure.

1. Help for Today: Care and support
Staff and volunteers in 39 Alzheimer Societies across Ontario provide support programs, educational resources and referral services to ease the burden of care and improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer's disease. Services are free for as long as they are needed. These include:

• Memory clinics for early detection
• Education and information sessions
• Support groups
• Private and family counselling
• Respite care – short term overnight stays to alleviate caregiver burden
• Art and music programs

First Link is an innovative program that connects people who are newly diagnosed with local health professionals in selected Ontario communities. It offers information about diagnosis, day-to-day living, positive approaches to care and how to prepare for the end of life. The program also provides individual support and counselling and links people with the disease to other Alzheimer Society programs and services.

Safely Home® helps police find people with dementia who are lost and return them safely to their home. It is a nationwide program developed by the Alzheimer Society of Canada in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. For more information or to register, visit www.safelyhome.ca.
 
2. Hope for tomorrow: Raising funds for world-class research
For 25 years, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario has made research to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease a top priority.  Since we receive no government funding, it is only through the support of private donors that we are able to fund research that is key to understanding, preventing and finding a cure for this devastating illness.

The Alzheimer Society National Research Program, a collaborative effort between the Alzheimer Society of Canada (ASC), its provincial affiliates, partners and donors provides Research Grants and Training Awards to support the vital work of Canadian investigators in:

• Biomedical research into the causes and cure for Alzheimer's disease
• Research into social and psychological aspects of the disease, including caregiving, family support and long-term care. ASO is also a co-founder and lead funder of the Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CRND) at the University of Toronto. The CRND provides international leadership in research, education and discovery related to neurodegenerative diseases.

3. Advocacy: No one needs to face this disease alone
Alzheimer's disease and related dementia have the potential to overwhelm Ontario's health care system. We campaign for improved health and social services and greater public understanding of the disease.

4. Awareness: Offering the latest information
We search for and publish the latest information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, including risk factors, myths, and how you can help delay the onset or slow the progression of the disease.

Using the latest in social media, a new website www.forgetfulnotforgotten.com offers caregivers across the country, especially those in remote areas, a safe and welcoming online community where they can network, share stories, and find helpful resources. Among the site's many features and tools are direct links to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario's main website and its 39 Chapter pages. 

For more information about any of our programs and services, please visit our website www.alzheimerontario.org, email communications@alzheimeront.org, or call 416-967-5900.

Our Vision: a world without Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Our Mission: to alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and to promote research.