Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can be devastating — not only for those experiencing the disease, but also for their families and caregivers. The progressive brain degradation and mental deterioration that can occur as we age are common in many families. Most of us know someone who has or had dementia of some kind. More than 747,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The disease is life changing, but services and support are available – and none of us have to face it alone.

How Canadian Alzheimer’s charities are doing heavy lifting

People living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia require ongoing, and eventually full time support to stay safe and continue to live their lives to the fullest extent possible. Their families and caregivers need support and respite as well.  Across Canada, in both official languages, charities are at the forefront of dozens of solutions for this devastating ailment. They’re doing the heavy lifting in terms of support groups, training sessions, telephone hotlines, and urgent programs for individuals and families. While hospitals and medical practitioners offer timely treatments, a great deal of work is done outside the medical setting, where charities provide key services and programs, such as:

• helping people living with Alzheimer’s disease to remain in their homes and communities if they can and want to;
• providing training, counseling, and respite for caregivers;
• distributing resources and raising awareness in the community;
• informing the public about Alzheimer’s disease and the effects it has on people and society; and
• advocating on behalf of Alzheimer clients and their families with governments and local agencies.

On top of these essentials, charities, foundations and institutes fund research on the causes, prevention, and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. By supporting scientists and leading-edge research projects, these charitable organizations hope to one day eradicate the diseases.

You can help improve the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

To support the charities working to end this crisis, CanadaHelps created the Life with Alzheimer’s Fund, an easy way to support more than 70 charities dedicated to this Cause in a single transaction. Gifts made to this Fund are pooled together to achieve wide-reaching impact and to help Canadian charities continue their important work improving the lives of tens of thousands of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia

Learn more about this Fund now, and how you can support those living Life with Alzheimer’s. >>

Updated on November 4, 2024