TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:
WHEREAS it currently takes on average 18 months for people in Ontario to get an official dementia diagnosis, with some patients often waiting years to complete diagnostic testing;
WHEREAS research confirms that early diagnosis saves lives and reduces care partner stress, but more than half of patients suspected of having dementia in Ontario never get a full diagnosis;
WHEREAS a PET scan test approved in Ontario in 2017 can be key to detecting Alzheimer's early but is still not covered under OHIP in 2022;
WHEREAS the Ontario government must work together with the federal government to prepare for the approval and rollout of future disease-modifying therapies and research;
WHEREAS the Alzheimer Society projects that one million Canadians will be caregivers for people with dementia, with families providing approximately 1.4 billion hours of care per year by 2050;
WHEREAS research shows that Ontario will spend $27.8 billion between 2023 and 2043 on alternate level of care (ALC) and long-term care (LTC) costs associated with people living with dementia;
WHEREAS the government must follow through with its commitment to ensure Ontario's health care system has the capacity to meet the current and future needs of people living with dementia and their care partners;
THEREFORE WE THE UNDERSIGNED call on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to develop, commit, and fund a comprehensive Ontario Dementia Strategy.