The COVID-19 and Dementia Task Force
The Alzheimer Society has convened a team of leading researchers, clinicians and dementia specialists from across the country.
COVID-19 has left many Canadians living with dementia, caregivers, and families facing challenges they’ve never experienced, as the pandemic has exposed the gaps in dementia care across Canada’s health and long-term care systems.
In response, the Alzheimer Society has convened the COVID-19 and Dementia Task Force compiled of leading researchers, clinicians, and dementia specialists across the country, as well people with lived experience.
The goals of the Task Force
Drawing on their expertise and experience, the Task Force is addressing the gaps in our healthcare system that have left Canadians living with dementia in need of help.
However, the Task Force’s role is not just identifying where the problems are – they are creating solutions that will immediately improve care and support for people living with dementia, caregivers and families.
1. Reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with dementia
Guidelines for acute care on allocating scarce resources to people with dementia during a pandemic
Read a brief overview of the guidelines (pdf)
Read the full guidelines article (pdf)
Watch the brainXchange webinar
2. Evaluating the delivery of virtual-care for people living with dementia
Recommendations for family physicians on what to consider for remote cognitive and behavioral assessments
Read and listen to an overview of the assessment
Read the full assessment (pdf)
3. Analysing the numbers behind COVID-19 & people with dementia
Understanding gaps in use of the healthcare system for people with dementia during the pandemic and the number of people with dementia who died due to COVID-19
Read the research overview from the lead investigator
4. Understanding the impact of the pandemic on people with dementia in long-term care
Improving end of life care for people with dementia in long-term care homes during the pandemic
Read the full recommendations and report (pdf)
5. Preventing a second healthcare crisis from the loss of nursing home staff to COVID-19
Uncovering the devaluation of nursing home staff during COVID-19: Are we fuelling the next healthcare crisis?
6. Promoting quality of life for long-term care residents through a health crisis
Social connection is essential in long-term care homes: considerations during COVID-19 and beyond – Available soon
Improving healthcare now and beyond the pandemic
In collaboration with the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Geriatrics Society and others, the Task Force is working to ease the impact of the pandemic on the future of our healthcare system.
If another pandemic should hit, these measures would help ensure everyone in Canada – including people living with dementia, caregivers, families and healthcare providers – will be ready to tackle the challenges.
Please continue to check this page for more updates as the Task Force investigates possible solutions.
Thanks, and acknowledgements
We wish to thank and acknowledge the members of our Dementia and COVID-19 Task Force.
The team is co-led by Dr. Saskia Sivananthan, Chief Science & KTE Officer at the Alzheimer Society of Canada, Dr. Serge Gauthier and Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso.
- Dr. Gauthier is a professor at McGill University in the Departments of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Medicine. He is also Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit at the McGill Centre for Studies in Aging.
- Dr. Montero-Odasso is a professor at Western University, Departments of Medicine, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics. He is a geriatrician and clinician-scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute and an executive of the Canadian Geriatrics Society.