Dementia

44 articles
by Lisa Machado

Dementia patients deserve more than coloured balls and matching games

If that’s the best we can do, we haven’t learned anything about dignity, respect, and authentic life enrichment

by Ferrukh Faruqui

Quebec’s move to allow advance requests for MAiD ‘the worst news imaginable’

Quebec’s decision to forge ahead with advance requests for Medical Assistance in Dying could put the elderly and those with dementia at risk, critics say.

by Michael Borrie

Patients with cognitive decline deserve more than just sympathy – they deserve action

Prioritizing Alzheimer’s care isn’t just a health issue; it’s a societal imperative informed by research. We must invest in early detection, expand access to innovative treatments and craft policies informed by patient experiences.

by Saskia Sivananthan Alexandra Whate

A new voice for dementia advocacy

Dr. Saskia Sivananthan and Alexandra Whate discuss the formation of the Brainwell Institute and its mission to advocate for people living with dementia, their families and their care partners.

by Sarah Main Jenson Price Alixe Ménard Jhnelle McLaren-Beato Larry W. Chambers

Clarity, compassion and dignity: Communicating a dementia diagnosis effectively

Health-care providers often face challenges in communicating dementia diagnoses, as it involves navigating complex emotional and practical considerations. The toolkit can help.

by Madison Stringer

‘Where words fail, music speaks’

Therapists are training seniors in music to help with brain health. Research shows that learning to play an instrument in later life can help slow cognitive decline.

by Monica Parry

Can we afford to keep ignoring the health of unpaid caregivers?

Unpaid caregivers must be a priority focus if we are to sustain the future of our healthcare system. We absolutely cannot afford to keep the health of unpaid caregivers in Canada invisible.

by Helen Senderovich Keisa Mokenela

Palliative care as a true art form

When the foundation of communication begins to crumble, what will be the pillar health-care professionals can lean on to support patients afflicted with dementia during their final days?

by Nicole Naimer

Clinic offers a ‘one-stop shop’ for brain care

The Brain Medicine Clinic – a novel clinical model that is a “one-stop shop” for diagnosis, symptom management and treatment – is serving those who don’t have a clear home elsewhere in the health-care system.

by Zier Zhou

Canada’s first publicly funded ‘dementia village’ is set to open next year. So, what is it?

One in four seniors aged 85 and older is diagnosed with dementia. Novel ways of caring for dementia patients are urgently needed. Dementia villages are designed to prioritize patients' safety and support without compromising their autonomy and community.

by Rebekah Sibbald Samuel Thrall Larry W. Chambers

Delirium prevention: Up close and personal

Despite being the third most common cause of unintended harm as a result of medical treatment, delirium is still widely misunderstood. This is what the public, patients, and health-care workers all need to know about the condition.

by Maddi Dellplain

‘Technology to help bridge the gap’: Smart homes and sensors ease caregiver burden

Smart home technology has become ubiquitous in recent years. Now researchers in Ottawa are finding ways to use this same technology to aid health-care workers, family caregivers, and allow patients to age in place.

by Catharine Chambers Nicole Naimer Maddi Dellplain

The Faces & Phases of COVID-19

The Faces/Phases Project is a portrait of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Through a series of data visualizations, we cover the first two years of the pandemic.

by Joshua Armstrong Saskia Sivananthan

We must confront our dementia challenges now

Every year, thousands of Canadians receive the news that they, or someone they love, have been diagnosed with dementia. Finding solutions requires the commitments of all levels of government and Canadians themselves to make changes to their day-to-day lives.

by Larry W. Chambers Madeleine Smith

Rethinking aging as it applies to the brain

Research from the last decade has upended much of what we thought we knew about dementia and the aging brain. As we're now living longer, its important to learn what changes we need to make individually and culturally to increase our brains ability at any age. 

by Larry W. Chambers Rebecca Correia

Dementia care in need of province-wide network in MINT condition

Ontario does not have a standardized primary care model for dementia. But for other prevalent health conditions, Ontario has provincial clinical networks. Such a network should be established for dementia care too. Here's why.

by Don Melady Frank Molnar

‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure’: Hospitals slow to recognize increasing number of dementia patients

In our hospitals, we have no systems in place to identify people living with dementia, measure how many there are or how their dementia impacts our care. And hospitals are not implementing programs to improve.

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