Although most Canadians are aware that the incidence of Alzheimer’s is expected to double in the next 15 years, a vast majority of them have not prepared a homecare contingency plan in the event that they or a loved one is diagnosed with the disease, which currently affects more than half a million in Canada.
To mark the launch of its new Caregiver Series Guide on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, We Care Home Health Services commissioned a survey to determine Canadians’ levels of awareness surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia as well as their preparedness to take on a caregiver role.
The survey also compared knowledge amongst Canadians currently acting as a caregiver for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s to those that are not.
According to the survey, the vast majority (79 per cent) of non-caregivers do not have homecare contingency plans in place for themselves or a loved one in the event of an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis.
In contrast those already acting in a caregiver capacity for a loved one suffering from the disease were more likely to have a plan with more than half (55 per cent) of current caregivers indicating they have made plans.
“What this survey is telling us is that although Canadians are aware that the number of Alzheimer’s cases is set to double, they are not proactively preparing themselves or their loved ones,” said Linda Lane, of We Care Home Health Services.
For more information, or to get a free copy of We Care’s Caregiver Series Guide on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, please call 1-855-699-3227 or visit www.wecare.ca.
