TORONTO, March 27 /CNW/ - While health care was not top of mind in
yesterday's provincial budget, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario is optimistic.
"We welcome the Government's overall increase in healthcare spending to
$42.6 billion, especially its renewed commitment to the Aging at Home
Strategy," says Linda Stebbins, Chief Executive Officer.
"The Strategy will become increasingly vital for finding new and
innovative approaches for community care and support for our aging population
and the ever growing number of families facing Alzheimer's disease. Our First
Link program is a great example of what the Strategy can achieve, quickly
connecting newly diagnosed people with the appropriate medical and social
services in their community.
The Government's investment of $360 million for affordable housing for
low-income seniors and people with disabilities is also an encouraging sign.
In our pre-budget submission to the Province, we urged the adoption of an
age-friendly policy in infrastructure investment," adds Stebbins.
Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive
degenerative brain disease, affecting about 185,000 people in Ontario; that
number is expected to more than double in less than 25 years. Alzheimer's is
one of the most debilitating of chronic diseases. It erases memory, steals
independence and eventually, takes life.
"Are we ready to meet the needs of the thousands of families already
affected and the demographic challenges that lie ahead? We've got to invest
more in healthcare and social services, educate and train frontline healthcare
professionals and boost research funding," urges Stebbins.
In the coming days and weeks, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario will be
asking the McGuinty government to direct some of the $100 million (over four
years) earmarked for bio-medical research towards dementia research.
Through a network of 39 chapters in communities across the province, the
Alzheimer Society of Ontario offers help for today by providing care and
support for individuals and families living with Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias, and hope for tomorrow by fundraising for a cure. Founded in 1983,
the Society's vision is a world without Alzheimer's disease.
To learn more about the Society and Alzheimer's disease, visit
www.alzheimerontario.org.
For further information: Media contact: Rosanne Meandro, Communications
Officer, Alzheimer Society of Ontario, 20 Eglinton Avenue, West, Toronto, ON,
M4R 1K8, Telephone: (416) 847-8920, Email: rmeandro@alzheimeront.org
