Rising Tide in Saskatchewan

Over the next 30 years, dementia is expected to cost Saskatchewan society over $35.9 billion in health costs, unpaid caregiver opportunity costs and indirect costs associated with dementia and the provision of unpaid care.

Prevalence: number of cases in a given year

• Today in Saskatchewan, approximately 18,332 people have dementia.
• In 30 years, over 28,099 Saskatchewan residents will be living with dementia, accounting for 2.3% of the population.
• 65% of people in Saskatchewan with dementia will be women.

Incidence: number of new cases per year

• In 2012, there were over 4,124 new cases of dementia in seniors aged 65 and older.
• By 2038, the number of newly diagnosed cases is expected to more than double, reaching over 8,140.
• Today in Saskatchewan, every 24 hours 10 people will develop Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.
• By 2038, this number doubles to 20 people every 24 hours.

Economic Impact

• In 2012, the cost of dementia in Saskatchewan was over $957 million (future values) per year. These included direct health costs, unpaid caregiver opportunity costs and indirect costs. By 2038, this number will reach $6.2 billion (future values) per year.
• The cumulative economic burden of dementia is expected to total more than $35.9 billion (2008 dollars) over the next 30 years.

Other Facts:

• In the next 30 years, the excess demand for long-term care (LTC) required by dementia patients will increase more than 11 times the current (2008 values) demand.
• Excess demands for LTC will cause more patients with higher severity levels, and who require complex care, to rely on community-based care and informal support.
• According to 2008 estimates, informal caregivers are expected to provide 9 million hours per year in unpaid care to those with dementia. By 2038, the total number of informal care hours is expected to increase 3.4 times the current estimate, to 30.5 million hours per year.
• Many informal caregivers have less than adequate resources and support available, which places an additional burden on their ability to cope while providing the level of quality care required.
• This will be amplified by the decreasing number of Saskatchewan adults available to provide formal and informal care to the large portion of seniors requiring care.
• According to Taking the Pulse, a comprehensive survey conducted by the University of Saskatchewan in 2012, 44% of people in Saskatchewan think that dementia is a problem in their immediate or extended family.