Jennifer Lyle: Now's the time to prioritize dementia care in B.C.

Opinion: As the number of people living with dementia increases — 85,000 today in B.C. and expected to increase to 250,000 by 2050 — so will the impact on everything from health care and housing, to transportation

Published Sep 19, 2024  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

According to a 2024 Leger-led study, seven in ten British Columbians have a connection to dementia through personal or professional life, writes Jennifer Lyle. Photo by Ocskaymark /Getty Images/iStockphoto

On Sept. 21 when the election is called, we will be 28 days away from the day B.C. votes. Coincidentally, Sept. 21 is also recognized as World Alzheimer’s Day, an opportunity to talk about the significant impact that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias have on our communities.

It’s estimated that more than 85,000 people are currently living with dementia in B.C. — a number expected to increase to 250,000 by 2050. While dementia is so often viewed as strictly a seniors’ issue, people can develop it long before the age of 65 in some cases. Not to mention the more than 30,000 people estimated to be providing more than 40,000 hours of unpaid care every year. As the numbers increase, the impact on every facet of the province will increase — from health care and housing, to transportation.

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According to a 2024 Leger-led study conducted for the Alzheimer Society of B.C., seven in 10 British Columbians have a connection to dementia through personal or professional life. This means that many of those running to become a member of the legislature this election have a personal connection to the disease, or soon will. However, dementia is an issue we don’t see addressed consistently in B.C. politics, despite the personal impact it has on MLAs and the influence it has on so many critical issues.

Dementia is an illness that affects everyone. This goes beyond just the people living with the disease or caring for someone who has it. The impact extends to friends, families, neighbours and people who work with them. Anyone affected by dementia can attest that more needs to be done to provide support. So why is B.C. policy falling short?

One reason is voters’ attention. Many of us want to believe that we will be the poster child for successful aging, living to 95 without health problems. The reality is that this will not be the case for most of us — almost all of us will develop medical challenges as we age. In other words, most of us take the perspective that getting older is for other people. This reflects a deeply ageist culture. In a political sphere, this means that most voters are not thinking about the supports older adults need — such as dementia care — until they are directly faced with it. This is reflected in the decision-making priorities of our politicians.

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Additionally, policy is considered in four-year cycles. The impetus for politicians to make significant investments in things such as infrastructure is discouraged and shorter term policy with immediate impacts (and lower price tags) is favoured instead. As our population ages, more needs to be done to address dementia. This can be achieved by making it easier to receive a diagnosis, improving access to adult day programs and supporting the elimination of fees for publicly funded home support. Committing to developing a strategy to meet future demand for long-term care beds and reviewing the province’s assisted living model will also better address the needs of people living with dementia.

In our efforts to advocate for policy that better reflects the changing — and growing — needs of people affected by dementia, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. is encouraging people to reach out to candidates. We know that this is a disease that touches so many, and its impact will only increase if our decision-makers are not convinced that this is a significant policy priority for British Columbians.

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Jennifer Lyle is the chief executive officer of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. Prior to joining the Alzheimer Society of B.C., she was the founding CEO of SafeCare B.C.and has also previously worked as a health-care practitioner and has collaborated on research looking at the impact of design on people living with dementia. 

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