Ontario plans to expand First Link program to communities to promote diagnosis of dementia

The announcement was made by Dipika Damerla, Ontario Minister of Seniors Affairs, on behalf of Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on Nov 28 at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario in Toronto
“This service will make it easier for people with dementia and their loved ones to find the help they need. This is exactly what a patient-centred health care system should be about,” Dipika Damerla told media.

The plan to expand First Link program to reportedly hire 46 First Link Care Navigators who would provide services to 14,000 people diagnosed with dementia and their care partners to connect with local supports and community programs and services, such as health professionals, information about day-to-day living and care and counselling.

“Getting a dementia diagnosis is overwhelming. It’s hard to know what the next step is or where to go for the information and support you’ll need. The Alzheimer Society First Link program was key — it gave me and my husband the support we needed to know what services and programs we could access for help and allowed us to make informed decisions for our life moving forward,” Phyllis Fehr, M.L.A., R.N., S.A.N.E., living well with dementia told media.

As the province’s aging population grows, the reported number of 194,000 people in Ontario living with dementia is expected to grow.

​Ontario's three years' dementia strategy is part of  Patients First: Roadmap to Strengthen Home and Community Care to improve and expand home and community care and outlines the path we will follow for each of the next three years including creation of new programs.

To support people living with dementia in communities across the province the new plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25.

As a way of support to approximately additional 8,000 people living with dementia ​Ontario would provide respite to their families and other care partners by increasing access to community dementia programs which offer activities such as art, music, and exercise, social and recreational engagement, respite services, which includes in-home and overnight support for people living with dementia.

Ontario will invest reportedly $37.5 million over three years to expand community dementia programs, including respite care services and approximately $100 million over three years through its dementia strategy to improve the lives of people living with the disease and their families.

Since 1983, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for Ontarians living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias Alzheimer Society of Ontario’s First Link program will reportedly receive $8.15 million over three years to enhance dementia care coordination across the province in local Alzheimer Societies across Ontario.

“New First Link funding will help us enhance the critical role that local Alzheimer Societies play in supporting Ontarians living with dementia and their care partners from the moment they are diagnosed. Dementia is an incredibly complex condition and it can be difficult for families to navigate the system. First Link helps to ease the pressure,” Chris Dennis, CEO, Alzheimer Society of Ontario said.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

Images:
Dipika Damerla: Facebook
Eric Hoskins: Facebook
Chris Dennis: Facebook