For the hundreds of thousands of Canadians living with dementia and their families, a timely diagnosis can change everything.
The Dementia Care Pathways Project is a forward-looking initiative to transform how dementia is identified, treated and supported in Alberta. By connecting early diagnosis with integrated clinical care, research and community resources, we’re building a pathway that meets people where they are and moves them toward better outcomes.
Dementia is a growing health issue in Canada. Right now, about 600,000 Canadians are living with dementia. By 2030, that number could grow to almost one million people. Dementia affects not only the person living with it, but also their families, friends and caregivers.
Many people with dementia live at home with support from family members and caregivers. As we learn more about dementia, we are finding better ways to recognize it earlier and support people in their own communities.
The Dementia Care Pathways Project was created to help make this possible.
Getting a diagnosis earlier can help people and families get the support they need sooner. It can improve access to treatments, connect people to research opportunities and give families more time to plan.
This project brings together health-care providers, researchers, community groups, people living with dementia and caregivers to create a clearer and more connected path for dementia care. The goal is to make it easier for people to get the right care and support at the right time.
A dementia diagnosis can be the start of a long and difficult journey for people living with dementia and the people who care for them. Families often face confusion, stress and challenges finding the right help and support.
Right now, getting a diagnosis and ongoing care can take a long time. Care is not always connected, and families may struggle to know where to turn next.
The Dementia Care Pathways Project will create a more connected care pathway that brings together family doctors, specialists, health-care teams and community supports. It will help people living with dementia and their care partners get support for their physical health, emotional well-being, daily living needs and future planning.
The goal is to help people get the right care, information and support at the right time — from the first signs of memory concerns through every stage of care.
The pathway will be piloted at three sites chosen to reflect the diversity of where Albertans live and receive care:
Co-designed with clinicians and people living with dementia, the pathway will be hosted in our provincial electronic medical records and the Alberta Pathway Hub, easily accessible by family physicians and primary health care providers — positioning it for long-term adoption and provincial reach well beyond the pilot.
Some of the most promising advances in dementia care depend on something deceptively simple: knowing who is willing to help. Clinical trials and research studies are only as strong as the people who participate in them — and right now, Alberta lacks a comprehensive patient database to make those connections happen.
By creating a central resource that identifies individuals with memory impairment and a dementia diagnosis, who are interested in research participation connects them with clinical trials and researchers across Alberta, we can accelerate the development of new treatments and care to keep Albertans at the forefront of discoveries that will benefit people everywhere.
A dementia diagnosis doesn’t end at the clinic door. For people living with dementia and their families, some of the most important support happens between appointments — in communities, relationships and the everyday activities that bring meaning and connection to life.
Health is about more than managing symptoms. It’s about maintaining the relationships, routines and community participation that support well-being long after a diagnosis. This pillar of the Dementia Care Pathways Project is dedicated to understanding what that looks like in practice and making it easier for people to find the support they need, when they need it.
Project launch
Co-design workshops with clinicians, families and people living with dementia
Initial development of clinical pathway
Registry planning and infrastructure development
Clinical pathway pilot implementation
Registry recruitment begins
Social health research interviews and community mapping
Evaluation of pilot care pathway
Expansion of registry participation
Development of navigation tools and social prescribing resources
Final pathway refinement
Public release of community asset maps
Knowledge translation and provincial dissemination
The Dementia Care Pathways Project is expected to cost $3.1 million, $1 million of which is being provided by the Government of Alberta’s Primary Care Innovation fund. We need your help to close the gap.
You can join us in our goal of leading better care and support for those with dementia and their loved ones.
If you are interested in learning more about the Dementia Care Pathways project or would like to be involved, please contact demcare@ualberta.ca