Dear Friend,

Yesterday, as you will have heard, a report released by the Canadian Armed Forces outlines what they witnessed in their deployment to support long term care (LTC) homes dealing with COVID-19. As we have known for a long time, the system is broken and this report restates that in very stark terms. Now, is a unique moment to channel our outrage into action.

A statement released by the Alzheimer Society of Ontario can be found online here.

The Alzheimer Society of Toronto, and other societies across the province, will be looking for the ways we can play a meaningful role in advocating for change. Moreover, we will be looking to make change happen on the ground.

In Toronto, we are currently working with Behavioural Supports Ontario to support LTC through our social work team. As a result of the pandemic, work was already underway to identify various needs within LTC where we can offer support. We have approached The City of Toronto to offer virtual therapeutic and social recreation programming to their homes. We also have a role to play through our training programs that equip frontline workers to better support people living with dementia.

Our work is only just beginning, as we seek to create a better system of long term care in Toronto and across the country.

All the best,