Our vision, mission, and values
Learn about the vision, mission, values and guiding principles of the Alzheimer Society.
Our Vision
A world without Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Our Mission
To alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and to promote the search for causes, treatments, and a cure.
Our Values
Collaboration
We work together and with partners to fulfill our mission and achieve our goals, to ensure Canadians receive personal and responsive services throughout their dementia journey.
Accountability
We measure our performance and follow a process of continuous improvement. We are wholly accountable for our actions and must account to our stakeholders for our use of the financial and human resources available to us.
Respect
We set for ourselves the highest standards of honesty, trustworthiness and professional integrity in all aspects of our organization and carry out our work with the utmost respect for the dignity and the rights of the people we serve.
Excellence
We strive to engage stakeholders in meaningful ways. To inform, listen and be attentive to those we work with: People living with dementia, families, community partners, donors, volunteers and staff members.
Our Guiding Principles
- Personhood: A standing or status that is bestowed upon one human being, by others, in the context of relationship and social being. Personhood implies recognition, respect and trust. (Sourced from: Kitwood, T.M. Dementia Reconsidered: the person comes first. p. cm.- ‘Rethinking Aging series’)
- Dignity and respect: To create positive conditions where the person can live without fear of shame or ridicule; where people are treated with warmth and authenticity; listened to without judgment; and are given opportunity for self-determination and self-expression.
- Acceptance and understanding: To accept each person with unconditional positive regard; to accept behaviour as a form of communication which expresses unmet needs or emotions; and to assist the person to continue to enjoy basic personal freedoms.
- Relationships: To support and preserve present relationships; to support the person in the development of other positive relationships.
- Recognition and individuality: To recognize the individuality of each person with their own unique life experiences, personality, values, beliefs and opinions; to have these factors respected and incorporated in support planning.
- Relationships of trust: To provide the conditions necessary to satisfy fundamental needs and create a climate for personal realization by providing a relationship based on trust. In a relationship of trust, the person knows confidences are respected; choice and control is maintained; and the person will not be abandoned.