Improve the diagnosis experience
“Getting the dementia diagnosis a year sooner would have meant that we could have moved my mother to independent living at a point when her memory troubles wouldn’t have caused so much stress and difficulty settling into a new environment and learning new routines.” – Caregiver
Recommendation 1: Create a clear, step-by-step pathway for dementia care
Many people wait too long to get a dementia diagnosis – and when it comes, they often feel lost about what to do next.1 They may not know what supports exist, what treatments are available or how the disease will change over time. Doctors have also told us they need better guidance to support people on the dementia journey.
That’s why we’re asking for a clear clinical pathway for dementia care, similar to the pathways that already exist for cancer.2 A clinical pathway would guide doctors and specialists and other health-care professionals from the first signs of cognitive change through to end-of-life care. It would explain what supports, services and treatments are recommended at each stage and help people living with dementia and their caregivers know what to expect.
A clear pathway would ensure people across the province receive consistent, high-quality care and help families feel less lost and more supported.
Tell your MLA: Ask your MLA to support the development of a provincial dementia care pathway, created with input from people with lived experience, health-care professionals and the Alzheimer Society of B.C.
Share your story: Describe your experience navigating the health-care system. What was helpful? What was confusing? How would a clear pathway have made a difference for you or the person you support?
Recommendation 2: Expand incentives so more doctors specialize in caring for older adults
For many people living with dementia, the first step in getting help is seeing a family doctor. Unfortunately, more than one million people in B.C. don’t have a family physician. This makes early testing, diagnosis and ongoing care even harder.
When a family doctor completes an assessment, they often refer the person to a specialist who focuses on dementia and aging, but there aren’t enough specialists in B.C. As of 2019, there were only 60 geriatricians in the province – about half the needed number and far below what we’ll need by 2030.3
B.C. has already tried new physician payment models and loan forgiveness programs to attract more family doctors and support rural communities.4 These programs are helpful, but none of them specifically support doctors who care for older adults.
We’re calling on the province to expand these incentive programs so more physicians choose to specialize in geriatrics and dementia care. Without these specialists, people living with dementia will continue to face long waits and inconsistent access to the care they need.
Tell your MLA: Ask your MLA to support incentives that encourage doctors to specialize in caring for older adults, including people living with dementia.
Share your story: If you’ve had trouble finding a family doctor or accessing specialists who understand dementia, share your experience. Your story can help demonstrate the impact of this shortage.