World Alzheimer’s Month: addressing the stigma around dementia

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an opportunity to raise awareness of dementia and challenge the stigma associated with it. It is estimated that 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia and that number is predicted to triple, rising to 152 million by 2050. In Canada alone, more than 402,000 people 65 years and older live with dementia. Early diagnosis of dementia is important for life planning as well as for learning about and accessing the best available treatments. Supporting caregivers of loved ones with dementia is important as the emotional and physical demands can be enormous. Fortunately, there are multicomponent strategies that can be used to support family caregivers, allowing them to care for themselves while continuing to care for their loved ones. Learn more about dementia and what the latest research says about diagnosing and caring for someone living with it. If you know someone who would benefit from trustworthy resources on the topic, be sure to share with them too!