Public Policy

The Alzheimer Society of Ontario believes that there can be a better life for people affected by Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. By influencing public policy, we can improve the quality of life of people with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, their families and caregivers.

A large part of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario's role is to encourage public policy that achieves help for today and hope for tomorrow. To do this, the Alzheimer Society works with government and provincial organizations to help ensure that legislation, policies and programs are responsive to the needs of people affected by Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. This includes promoting the involvement of people affected by dementia in planning and policy-making.

Documents released by the Alzheimer Society of Ontario include the following (PDF files):

• Caring for the Caregivers (January 2008)
  Alzheimer Society of Ontario's submission in response to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs' 2008 Pre-Budget Consultations. Focus of response is on ensuring that government meets its commitment to provide grants for persons caring for someone with dementia in their own home.
• Goodness of Fit: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias and the Chronic Disease Management Framework (September 2007)
  Describes how care for persons with dementia and their caregivers can be furthered by delivering health and social supports through a chronic disease management framework. A joint paper of Alzheimer Society of Ontario and Central Regional Geriatric Program.
• Health Promotion Initiatives for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) (August 2007)
• Performance Improvement Process Model (attachment for Health Promotion report
  Looks at the rise in awareness and growing need for health promotion and prevention initiatives specifically aimed at dementia-risk reduction.
• It's Time to Act: Ontario's Dementia Imperative in English (August 2007)
• It's Time to Act: Ontario's Dementia Imperative in French (August 2007)
• A Profile of Ontario's Home Care Clients with Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementias (April 2007)
  Draws on data compiled by Ontario Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) in 2005. Provides information about the exceptional characteristics found in people living with dementia and the stress placed on their caregivers.
• Projected Prevalence of Dementia: Ontario's Local Health Integration Networks (April 2007)
  Provides dementia prevalence projections based on LHIN boundaries. A joint publication of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and the Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange.
• "New Visions and Understanding" Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias within Aboriginal Individuals (March 2007)
  Reports on the findings and outcomes of a roundtable discussion that examined culturally appropriate dementia services for Aboriginal peoples.
• Pressing Needs and Emerging Possibilities: The Dementia Challenge (Alzheimer Society of Ontario and Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange, March 2007)
  Reviews the Integrated Health Service Plans (IHSP) of each Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN), with an eye to the needs and issues of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Resource documents referenced in the review:
  

  • Resource Document 1
  • Resource Document 2
• ASO Written Submission on the Long-Term Care Homes Act (Bill 140) (January 2007)
• ASO Oral Presentation on the Long-Term Care Homes Act (Bill 140) (January 2007)
• Delivering Rural Health and Social Services: An Environmental Scan (March 2006)
  Explores ideas for health and social service delivery in rural and remote areas to best meet the needs of seniors, based upon an environmental scan conducted in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
• ASO Submission on the Local Health System Integration Act (Bill 36) (January 2006)
• Planning Model for the Health and Care of the Elderly (November 2005)
  Provides an overview of health system planning for the elderly, with an emphasis on Ontario. Originally prepared as a tool for the communities served by Alzheimer Society in Ontario and the 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs).
• Position Paper on the Casa Verde Jury Recommendations (September 2005)
• Home Care and Dementia: Response Paper of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario to the Caplan Report, Realizing the Potential of Home Care (August 2005)
• Shaping the Future (January 2003)

Documents on the Alzheimer Strategy Transition Project include the following (PDF Files):

• ADRD Planning Framework in English (September 2006)
  Encompasses a vision of Ontario where all people living with dementia and their partners in care can live meaningful lives across the progression of the illness through active, personal and community engagement.
• ADRD Planning Framework in French (September 2006)
• Framework Toolkit (June 2007)
  Ontario's Roundtable on Future Planning for People affected by Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias aims to help individuals, service organizations, researchers and governments enhance their effectiveness in supporting people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and their families. Promotes cross-sector linkages at all stages of the disease. Accompanies the ADRD Planning Framework.
• Health Human Resource Strategy (April 2007)
  Makes eight key recommendations in the following areas: (1) impact of dementia as a co-morbid condition; (2) education; (3) training and upgrading; (4) building integrated dementia care, (5) recruitment; (6) quality of work life and employee retention; (7) future role and support for Psychogeriatric Resource Coordinators and Public Education Coordinators; and, (8) "in the field" leadership support.

Document released by the Ontario government (PDF file):

• Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias (2005)

Helpful Links

The following websites may be helpful if you're looking for more information on public policy issues.

Please note that the Alzheimer Society of Ontario is not able to guarantee the accuracy of the information on these websites, or endorse products or services offered through them.

• Advocacy Centre for the Elderly
• ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities
• Kenneth G. Murray Alzheimer Research & Education Program (MAREP)
• Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
• Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centres (CCAC Long-Term Care Priority Project is located on this site)
• Ontario Association of Non-Profit Nursing Homes and Services for Seniors
• Ontario Community Support Association
• Ontario Gerontology Association
• Ontario Hospital Association
• Ontario Legislative Assembly (Hansard)
• Ontario Long Term Care Association