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Alzheimer Society of Ontario
20 Eglinton Avenue West, 16th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M4R 1K8

Phone:416-967-5900

Email:[email protected]

Provincial Societies:

416-967-5900

416-967-5900

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About dementia
- What is dementia?
  - What is dementia?The term "dementia" doesn't actually refer to one, specific disease. Rather, it's an overall term for a set of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain.
  - Common questions about dementiaGet the answers to the most common questions about dementia.
  - Dementia numbers in CanadaThe Alzheimer Society is committed to providing accurate and reliable data on dementia in Canada. Statistics listed on this page are the most current available and are updated periodically when new reports and studies are issued.
- What is Alzheimer's disease?
  - What is Alzheimer's disease?Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that destroys brain cells, causing thinking ability and memory to deteriorate over time. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging, and is irreversible.
  - The history behind Alzheimer's diseaseWhile Alzheimer's has always been with us, attempts to understand and identify the disease and its impact didn't come about until very recently in human history.
  - The difference between Alzheimer's disease and other dementiaAlzheimer's disease and dementia do not mean the same thing. Understand the difference on this page.
  - How Alzheimer's disease changes the brainAlzheimer's disease can change the brain in many different ways, On this page, read about some of the changes you may expect as the disease progresses.
  - The stages of Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease is usually described in terms of stages, indicating the severity of the symptoms. Learn about the stages on this page, from early stage to end of life.
  - Genetic testing and Alzheimer's diseaseGenetic testing can sometimes help identify whether a person has a high or low chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. On this page, find out more about genetic testing for Alzheimer's and whether it applies to you.
- Other types of dementia
  - Other types of dementiaWhile Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, there are other types as well. Learn about them here.
  - LATE-NCLimbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (or LATE-NC) is the most recently identified form of dementia, noted for its close similarity to Alzheimer’s.
  - Dementia with Lewy bodiesDementia with Lewy bodies – caused by abnormal 'Lewy bodies' deposits of protein called alpha-synuclein inside of the brain's nerve cells – shares many similarities with Parkinson’s disease.
  - Frontotemporal dementiaFrontotemporal dementia is an umbrella term for a group of rare disorders that primarily affect the areas of the brain associated with personality and behaviour.
  - Mixed dementiaIt's possible for someone to have more than one type of dementia. When this happens, it's known as mixed dementia.
  - Vascular dementiaThe most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia occurs when the brain’s blood supply is blocked or damaged, causing brain cells to be deprived of oxygen and die.
  - Young-onset dementiaWhen symptoms of dementia start before the age of 65, we use the term "young onset dementia."
  - Rare types of dementiaThere are many conditions that, in rare cases, can lead to dementia. Learn about them in this section.
  - Conditions related to dementiaLearn about conditions similar to dementia in this section.
- Do I have dementia?
  - Do I have dementia?If you're unsure whether you have dementia, this section will help you. Get answers to common questions. Recognize what's a warning sign and what's part of normal aging. Know when it may be time to seek a diagnosis.
  - The 10 warning signs of dementiaWhether you’re concerned for yourself or someone you care about, it's important to know the warning signs of dementia so you can ensure an early diagnosis. Here are 10 of the most common warning signs for dementia.
  - The differences between normal aging and dementiaIf you are experiencing difficulties with memory, know that they may not be signs of dementia. It could be memory loss as a part of normal aging.
  - How to get tested for dementiaIf you or someone you know is concerned about having dementia, it’s important that you can identify the warning signs, know when to talk to your doctor and understand how dementia is diagnosed. Follow these steps.
  - How can I prevent dementia?The most effective way to prevent Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is to minimize the risk factors and make healthy lifestyle choices that benefit both your body and brain.
  - How can I treat dementia?There are currently no treatments that can reverse cognitive decline brought on by dementia. However, there are approaches you can take that can help you fight symptoms and maintain your quality of life for as long as possible.
  - Stigma against dementiaStigma is one of the biggest barriers for people living with dementia to live fully with dignity and respect. Help us fight stigma by learning more about its effects and taking steps to reduce its impact.
- About dementiaIn this section, learn more about dementia, including its most common type (Alzheimer's disease), other types of dementia and evidence-based recommendations on preventing and treating the disease.
Help and support
- LGBTQ2S+ & Dementia
- Programs and services
  - Programs and servicesThe Alzheimer Society of Ontario offers programs and services to help people living with dementia, care partners, and healthcare professionals get the support they need most.
  - ALZeducateALZeducate is an online resource for best practice dementia education. Join us in making a difference in the lives of people living with dementia!
  - Dementia DialogueDementia Dialogue is a podcast featuring people living with dementia, their care partners, and supporters sharing experiences from across Canada.
  - Finding Your WayFinding Your Way® helps people living with dementia, their families, care partners, and communities recognize the risks of going missing, be prepared for incidents of going missing, and ensure that people with dementia can live safely in the community.
  - First Link^®First Link® is a referral program designed to help newly diagnosed people with dementia and their families get the help they need as soon as possible.
  - U-First!® AdvancedU-First!® Advanced is an education program for health care providers with a direct care role who have already taken U-First!® and want to enhance their skills and ability to apply the U-First!® Framework.
  - Minds in Motion^®Through Minds in Motion®, people living with early to mid-stage dementia will experience meaningful and beneficial socialization and stimulation through a number of appropriate activities. Learn more about the program on this page.
  - Ontario community servicesFinding the right community services can be challenging, but the Alzheimer Society is here to help connect you with the services you need.
  - Support by phoneTelehealth Ontario is here to help family care partners by connecting them to Registered Nurses over the phone when regular health services are closed on evenings and weekends. When connected through Telehealth Ontario, you can receive any answers, inform
  - U-First!^®U-First!® is a training program designed to help frontline staff develop a common knowledge base, language, and approach to caring for people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
- I'm living with dementia
  - I'm living with dementiaOur mission is to support you. The Alzheimer Society can provide you with the information and resources to help you manage your diagnosis, assert your rights, live well with dementia, plan for your future and more.
  - First steps after diagnosisYou've likely been worried and anxious about the changes you're seeing in yourself. Now that you've been diagnosed, know that there are education and resources to support you. Learn the first steps to living well with dementia.
  - Talking about your diagnosisIf you've just been diagnosed with dementia, you may need some time before sharing the news – or you may want to talk about it right away. However your approach, this page can help you with strategies for communication.
  - Managing the changes in your abilitiesDementia impacts your cognitive, emotional, physical and social abilities. Understand how these changes can affect you, and know how you can prepare and adjust accordingly to live well with dementia.
  - Living well with dementiaA diagnosis of dementia does not mean your life is over. This section provides you with strategies to live well with dementia, along with tips and advice from other people who are living with dementia.
  - Planning for your futureAs your dementia progresses, it can become difficult to make choices about your care, finances and other important decisions. However, there are a number of things you can do now to ensure your wishes are communicated, heard and respected.
- I'm caring for a person living with dementia
  - I'm caring for a person living with dementiaUnderstanding dementia and its progression is vital to ensure that both you and the person with dementia can live as well as possible. We have the resources to support you and your care of the person living with dementia.
  - What to expect as the person's dementia progressesCaring for someone with dementia can be a great reward but it can be challenging at times. Prepare yourself by knowing what to expect.
  - Looking after yourselfProviding care for someone living with dementia takes a tremendous toll on the physical and emotional health of the primary caregiver, yet many caregivers often don't recognize the warning signs, or deny its effects on their health.
  - Understanding symptomsDementia can affect the personality and behaviour of the person living with the disease. Learn more about understanding and responding to these changes associated with dementia.
  - Providing day-to-day careYou want to make every day the best day possible. Caring for someone with dementia can be a great reward but it can be challenging at times. Prepare yourself with these tips.
  - Ensuring safety and securityDementia can affect a person’s physical abilities and mental acuity. Learn more about protecting yourself or a family member who has dementia.
  - Long distance caregivingToday, family members often live at some distance from each other. When a relative needs increasing support, caring from a distance presents additional and special problems.
  - Long-term careWhen a person living with dementia needs full time support, moving to a long-term care home may be the next step for you and your family.
  - End-of-life careThe needs of people with dementia at the end of life are unique and require special considerations. This section can help you prepare for end of life, make some of the difficult decisions you may face, and cope with the grief and loss you might experience
- I have a friend or family member who lives with dementia
  - I have a friend or family member who lives with dementiaSomeone you know – a parent, a sibling, a friend, a coworker – has dementia. What can you do to help? Learn more about dementia and how you can be dementia-friendly.
  - First steps for families after diagnosisKnowing the following tips may help make life easier and more enjoyable for you and the person living with dementia as well as to prepare for the future.
  - Understanding how your relationship may changeDementia can change many aspects of a relationship, but not the need for love and affection.
  - Communicating with people living with dementiaUnderstand how dementia affects communication, and learn some useful strategies to help communication throughout the progression of the disease.
  - Ways to helpFriends, neighbours and extended family are important sources of support for the family. Perhaps you want to help but don't know where to begin. This page will give you some ideas of how you can offer practical help and show that you care.
  - Managing ambiguous loss and griefThe issue of loss and grief is one of the most significant issues when supporting people living with dementia and their caregivers. Losses and grieving occur in different ways at all stages in the dementia caregiving journey.
  - Making meaningful visitsWhether you are visiting someone with dementia every day or just once in a while, making the most of your time together will mean a more meaningful visit for both of you!
  - Helping children understand dementiaDementia can be a hard concept for younger children to understand.
  - Helping teens understand dementiaThis page can help you give teenagers information they can use to understand what's happening.
  - Holidays and special occasionsFor some of us, holidays or other special life events can be stressful, particularly if you are a caregiver or a person living with dementia. Unfamiliar places, large groups of people, noise and a hectic pace can create a lot of anxiety.
- I'm a healthcare provider
  - I'm a healthcare providerLearn more about dementia and how you can ensure quality person-centred care for people living with the disease.
  - Providing person-centred careFostering a person-centred approach to care will improve the quality of care for people with dementia and their families.
  - Person-centred care of people with dementia living in care homesThe Alzheimer Society of Canada looked for evidence-based research that shows how to successfully implement person-centred programs and practices in long-term care homes. Here is the result.
  - Diagnosis and screeningTools for healthcare professionals to support dementia screening, assessment, and early diagnosis.
  - Making a referral with First Link®Find out how you can use First Link® to refer a person newly diagnosed with dementia to their local Alzheimer Society, connecting them to help and support in their community.
  - Addressing ambiguous loss and grief as a healthcare providerPractical resources to help healthcare professionals understand loss and grief associated with dementia.
  - Professional developmentA selection of training and e-learning modules as well as useful resources.
  - Other resources and tools for healthcare providersGet resources on driving, pain, dementia research, self-management, long-term care and more.
- I'm a first responder
- I'm a financial professional
- Dementia resources
  - Dementia resourcesLooking for more information on dementia? Get brochures, videos, our recommendations for assistive products and more.
  - National resource libraryBrowse our resource library to learn more about dementia. We cover a wide range of topics and audiences.
  - Information in other languagesThe Alzheimer Society of Canada presents all its information in English and French. The links here provide information about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in other languages.
  - Managing through COVID-19
  - Shopping for assistive productsAssistive devices can help individuals perform a task that they might otherwise be unable to do, or simply make the task easier and safer to perform.
  - Video resourcesThese videos can help you understand more about dementia, know what to expect and how to provide dementia care.
- Help and supportWhether you want to learn more about the programs and services we offer, or find dementia-related information specific to your needs, the Alzheimer Society has the education and resources to help you.
Take action
- Donate
  - DonateYour donation today will help fund crucial provincial support programs and services that people living with dementia and their care partners depend on.
  - Give at workLooking for ways to give back? Start with giving at work!
  - Leave a legacyFind out what your options are for leaving a planned gift with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.
- Fundraise and participate
  - Fundraise and participateFind ways that you can participate and be a fundraiser for the Alzheimer Society of Ontario to help support and raise awareness for people living with dementia!
  - Social with a PurposeSocial with a Purpose is a do-it-yourself fundraiser that promotes the importance of socializing, staying in touch, and building strong, positive relationships with your friends, family, and community.
- Volunteer
- Become dementia-friendly
  - Become dementia-friendlyBy understanding the everyday experiences of people living with dementia, you can better accommodate their needs and help them live well. Becoming dementia-friendly will make a direct impact on the people living with dementia in your community.
  - Dementia-Friendly CanadaBy the end of the decade, almost one million Canadians will live with dementia. The impact of dementia is and will continue to be felt across all borders, sectors and cultures. We must act and build a dementia-friendly Canada now.
  - Meaningful engagement of people living with dementiaMeaningful engagement is a person-centred approach that encourages and invites people living with dementia to participate in an organization's work with purpose and interest. By practicing meaningful engagement, you can benefit from people living with dem
  - Using person-centred languageThe Alzheimer Society has developed language guidelines for anyone who lives with, supports, or works with a person living with dementia or caregiver. These guidelines can help you promote consistent, respectful language around dementia.
  - Dementia Friendly Communities Ontario
- Policy and Advocacy
  - Policy and AdvocacyLearn about our efforts to build a dementia care system that works for everyone, and how you can get involved.
  - Pre-Budget SubmissionRead our current and past submissions ahead of the provincial budget.
  - Roadmap Towards a Renewed Ontario Dementia StrategyIn Ontario, dementia is hallway health care. Dementia is long-term care. We can do better.
  - Statements, Releases, and ResourcesPosition statements, media releases, and public resources related to public policy and advocacy.
- Change minds
  - Change mindsLearn how you can help us raise awareness and fight stigma against dementia in Canada.
  - Alzheimer's Awareness MonthJanuary is Alzheimer's Awareness Month in Canada. Learn what that means and how you can get involved.
  - Canada's national dementia strategyLearn more about Canada's first ever-national dementia strategy and the importance of having it fully funded.
  - The Canadian Charter of Rights for People with DementiaAs a person living with dementia, the Charter can help you assert your rights to live free of stigma, benefit from all of Canada's civic and legal rights, participate in policies that affect you and more.
  - Dementia Journey SurveyThe Alzheimer Society of Canada, in partnership with the College of Family Physicians of Canada, is asking you to participate in this 20-minute survey to help us understand your experience with the care you receive from your family physician.
  - Share your experiencesThe Alzheimer Society works with people across the country to raise awareness of dementia and fight stigma. By sharing your voice, you can make that message stronger. We want to hear from you.
- Take actionYou can help people living with dementia – it's easy! Through your Alzheimer Society, learn how to get involved through donating, fundraising, advocating, volunteering and more!
Research
- The Alzheimer Society Research Program
  - The Alzheimer Society Research ProgramOn this page, learn more about the Alzheimer Society Research Program, including funding opportunities for researchers, when applications open and highlights from previous ASRP funded research.
  - Latest funding resultsWe're pleased to announce the following 2020 grants and awards for the Alzheimer Society Research Program, funding Canadian researchers in the field of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, in the following areas of research.
  - Funding results historySee the past ASRP-funded projects that advanced dementia research in Canada, sorted by year.
- 10 priorities for dementia research in Canada
- Meet our researchers
- Participate in research
- Information for researchers
  - Information for researchersAre you a researcher currently funded by the Alzheimer Society Research Program, or interested in applying? Get all the information and resources you need in this section.
  - Apply to the Alzheimer Society Research ProgramInterested in applying to the latest ASRP Research Competition? On this page, learn what to know before applying, when to apply and get answers to frequently asked questions about submissions, awards and grants.
  - How ASRP funding gets determinedIn 2020, the Alzheimer Society Research Program received over 200 applications. Understand the process that determines which research projects among the final applicants receive funding.
  - Find participants for your studyThrough the Alzheimer Society Research Portal, you can get connected to people living in Canada who want to do their part in advancing dementia research – and want to participate in a study like yours!
  - Report forms for currently funded researchersFill out and submit your progress and final reports, as well as your conference evaluation form.
- Reports on dementia
- Social Determinants of Health and Dementia in Black Communities
- Dementia Research in Toronto
- ResearchResearch moves us forward. Your support will get us closer to life-altering treatments, better care and cures for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
What's happening
- Media centre
  - Media centreThe Alzheimer Society of Ontario's media centre can help you find more information about the Alzheimer Society, who to contact, the latest news and events, and more!
  - Media ReleasesFind the Alzheimer Society of Ontario's past and current media releases.
  - Position StatementsFind the Alzheimer Society of Ontario's past and current position statements.
- News and stories
- Newsletter
- The 10 warning signs of dementia
- Event calendar
- What's happeningGet the latest news about dementia, read the stories of people with lived experience and find out about events happening across the province, the country and near you.
About us
- Annual reports and finances
- Find your local Alzheimer Society
- Awards and accreditation of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario
- Our partners and sponsors
- Our people
  - Our peopleThe staff, volunteers and board of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario are strongly committed to supporting people living with dementia, their caregivers and their families.
  - Board of DirectorsMembers of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario’s Board of Directors, elected from across Ontario, guide the organization’s efforts to improve service and care, fund and advance research, and educate the communities we serve.
  - Career opportunitiesWant to get great experience while working for an amazing cause? Consider applying to work at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario!
- National statements
- The Alzheimer Society Federation
- Privacy policy
- About usFounded 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 other dementias.

First Link^®

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First Link® is a referral program designed to help newly diagnosed people with dementia and their families get the help they need as soon as possible.

First Link^®

To get started with First Link®, click here.

About First Link^®

First Link^® removes barriers by connecting individuals living with dementia and their families to vital dementia education, resources, and support at the time of diagnosis or as early as possible after diagnosis. Connecting to the right supports early in the dementia journey can make a big difference in the quality of life for both the person diagnosed and the care partner.

With locations across Ontario, the Alzheimer Society and the First Link^® program will help build the confidence of the individual diagnosed and their care partner for the journey ahead.

How First Link^® Works

In order to participate in the First Link^® program, a formal referral must be provided by a physician or other healthcare providers, diagnostic and treatment services, and community service providers.

Once a referral is made, the First Link Coordinator will contact the person with dementia and their family members, linking them to their local Alzheimer Society services and other programs within their community.

For healthcare providers

If you are a healthcare provider wishing to make a referral, please note that the process differs slightly in each province.

Find your provincial Society here and search for "First Link" to find information relative to their Society.

If you do not see a downloadable form, contact the Society directly for details.

More useful links and resources

First Link® Final Evaluation Report. (2010) Carrie A. McAiney, Loretta M. Hillier, Paul Stolee
The Alzheimer Society and beyond: a clinical review article in the Canadian Family Physician journal, December 2011 issue that discusses the benefits of referring people with dementia and caregivers to the Alzheimer Society.
The role of First Link® in enhancing support for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. (2012) Carrie A McAiney, Loretta M Hillier, Paul Stolee, David Harvey, Joanne Michael.