Dementia Concerns and Considerations: Our Panel of People With Lived Experience

As the number of Canadians living with dementia rises, so does the demand for dementia-related care across the country.

We facilitated a roundtable discussion to hear about patients’ and caregivers’ experiences to understand the needs that currently exist for dementia care in Canada. Panellists highlighted the need for care, treatment, supports, and services that prioritize personhood; are inclusive of individuals with young-onset dementia; strike a balance between safety and empowerment; help with navigating the health care system; and involve dignified and respectful communication.

Supporting people transitioning into dementia and their loved ones will require meaningful involvement of individuals during planning, development, and delivery of treatment, supports, and services.

These insights will be available for our upcoming reviews of medical procedures, devices, diagnostics, and drugs related to dementia. They will also be used to identify health technologies and potential topics for our future work about dementia.