Using knowledge to end dementia stigma
January 23, 2019
The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences has released a report entitled “Improving the Quality of Life and Care for Persons Living with Dementia,” which offers an assessment of the current knowledge and practice of dementia care in Canada. The results of this assessment will be used to inform the Government of Canada’s new dementia strategy.
Among the report’s expert panel of contributors is our very own Carrie McAiney, Schlegel Research Chair in Dementia and Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo. Carrie’s work involves close collaboration with persons living with dementia, family care partners, and providers to evaluate approaches that aim to enhance care and support for those living with dementia and their care partners.
Carrie’s passion for driving change in how we support those living with dementia is reflected in an article she wrote, recently published online by the Waterloo Region Record. The article explains how the release of Canada’s new dementia strategy creates an opportunity to spread awareness and education about dementia, a necessary first step toward eliminating dementia-related stigma.