Help make dementia an election issue

People living with dementia can't wait.  

Every day, people living with dementia and their care partners face challenges accessing timely diagnosis, navigating the health-care system and finding the support they need. Yet dementia continues to receive less attention than the scale of the issue demands.  

As candidates campaign in communities across BC, we are asking them to commit to improving the lives of people affected by dementia.  

You can help.  

Why your voice matters

Candidates want to hear from people in their communities. Your personal experience can help them understand the realities of living with dementia and why action is needed now. 

By contacting candidates in your riding, you can help ensure dementia is part of the conversation during this election and beyond.  

You do not need to be a policy expert. Sharing your story and asking a few simple questions can make a difference.

What we're asking political parties and candidates to support

The Alzheimer Society of BC and Yukon is calling on all parties and candidates to commit to developing, funding and implementing a provincial dementia strategy so that people living with dementia and care partners receive the care and support they deserve.

• Ensuring long-term investment in First Link^®
  • First Link^® dementia support provides vital, culturally relevant support to people affected by dementia from pre-diagnosis to end of life. Demand for these services continues to outpace provincial funding. Sustainable, long-term investment would help ensure families receive the support they need, when they need it most.
• Improving the diagnosis experience  
  • People living with dementia and their care partners tell us that getting a diagnosis can be difficult and that once they receive one, they may not have clarity about what happens next or whether the supports they need will be available. A timely diagnosis gives people an opportunity to plan and access treatment and support earlier.  
• Ensuring the right support is available at the right time  
  • People living with dementia are falling through the cracks. We need to improve the quality and accessibility of existing services so that people affected by dementia receive the support they need, when and where they need it. BC needs to invest in home health services, assisted living and long-term care.   
• Helping break down stigma and social isolation  
  • Stigma has a big impact on people living with dementia, their families, friends and care partners. When people know more about dementia, they're more likely to seek an earlier diagnosis and find the support and community they need to live as well as possible with the disease. A multi-year province-wide dementia awareness campaign, delivered in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of BC and Yukon, will support this.

Learn more about our policy recommendations here.   

How to take action  

• Email your local candidates.
  • Send a short email introducing yourself and explaining why dementia matters to you.  
  • Consider asking:
    • What will you do to improve support for people living with dementia and care partners?  
    • Do you support developing and implementing a provincial dementia strategy?  
    • How will your party improve access to timely diagnosis and ongoing support?
• Call a candidate's campaign office.
  • A brief phone call can help raise awareness of dementia issues in your community.  
  • Tell them:
    • You are a voter in the riding.  
    • Dementia has affected your life, your family or your community. 
    • You would like the candidate to support better dementia care and services.  
• Attend local events.
  • If candidates are holding town halls, debates or community events, consider attending and asking a question about dementia support and care.  
• Share your story.
  • ​​​​​​​Personal stories are powerful. Candidates are more likely to remember real experiences than statistics alone.  
  • You might share:
    • Challenges getting a diagnosis.
    • Difficulties finding support services.
    • The impact dementia has had on your family.
    • How First Link^® or other programs have helped.

Only share what you feel comfortable sharing.

Tips for effective advocacy  

• Be respectful and constructive.  
• Focus on your own experience.
• Keep your message brief and clear.
• Ask for a response when possible.
• Thank candidates for their time.

The Alzheimer Society of BC and Yukon is non-partisan. We encourage people to engage respectfully with candidates from all political parties.  

Together, we can make a difference.

People living with dementia can't wait. 

By sharing your experience and asking candidates to take action, you can help build awareness, encourage meaningful commitments and improve the lives of people affected by dementia across British Columbia.