N.L. launches new website aimed at assisting dementia patients and their caretakers
Shirley Lucas, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Health Minister John Hogan spoke at a news conference Monday about the launch of a new website with resources for people with dementia and their caretakers. (Arlette Lazarenko/CBC)
The Newfoundland and Labrador government has a new campaign and website focused on supporting dementia patients on their families.
At a news conference Monday, Health Minister John Hogan announced a new website that lists resources available to people affected by dementia and their caretakers as part of the province's dementia-care plan, announced in March 2023.
"They can be more aware of things like supports, diagnosis and treatment options," said Hogan.
"If individuals are able to remain in their home with the necessary supports … that's going to take a little bit of strain off the overall health-care system because they don't need to go to the emergency room."
The government, with partial funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, has budgeted $3.5 million annually for the plan.
The new website also gives information on the disease and the health-care resources people can ask for. It also has training for communities and businesses to become more inclusive and welcoming to people with dementia.
"Businesses should be dementia-friendly," said Shirley Lucas, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Lucas said businesses can learn how to better communicate with people with dementia, how to spot the signs someone has the disease and how to make spaces more welcoming with signs that are more clear so information isn't overstimulating.
Making communities more inclusive is important as well, she says, because of the province's aging population.
Currently, said Lucas, there are 10,000 people diagnosed with dementia in Newfoundland and Labrador, and that number is expected to grow to 14,000 people in the next couple of years.
"There are lots of tools and resources that are being highlighted by this website," she said.
"The call to action is for the community at large … to start making some calls and doing some reviews of the website to make a difference themselves."
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