5 learn about dementia and how to manage it. Examples of regional programs include "Minds in Motion," a fitness and social program for people in the early stages of dementia and their care partners, and "Coffee & Chat," a social gathering for caregivers. In British Columbia, culturally and linguistically tailored support is provided for Chinese and South Asian communities as well as Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit). Organizations such as Team Orange Canada and Tonari Gumi also offer specialized support for Japanese-Canadian and Japanese expatriate communities. The development of support systems that reflect diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds is a distinctive feature of Canada's approach and a notable difference from Japan.care and long-term care systems are already under significant strain, and a fundamental review of the overall support structure is needed. A more systemic issue is the fragmentation of dementia care across the country. While over 70 pilot projects have been carried out under Canada's national dementia strategy, many with promising results, the decentralized nature of the healthcare system, where each province and territory manages its own health services, makes it difficult to scale up successful initiatives nationally. Despite growing investment in dementia policy, fewer than one in five Canadians report feeling that dementia care has improved, highlighting a significant gap between policy development and real-world impact.Policies and Initiatives A defining feature of Canada's dementia support system is the central role of the Alzheimer Society of Canada, a national non-profit organization, with provincial chapters serving as the primary point of contact for region-specific support. The "First Link" helpline, available in each province, provides information on dementia diagnosis, care, and local resources, and is accessible not only to people living with dementia but also to their families and support workers. Each provincial Alzheimer Society offers locally tailored programs alongside shared online resources such as ALZeducate, an educational platform designed for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and the public to Challenges Canada's dementia care system faces several significant challenges. The most prominent is the difficulty of accessing a timely diagnosis. On average, it takes 28 months from the onset of symptoms to receive a diagnosis and begin treatment, largely due to a chronic shortage of dementia specialists. While more than 80% of family physicians report regularly seeing patients with dementia, only two in five feel adequately prepared to diagnose and manage the condition, making the development of a more robust diagnostic system an urgent priority. The burden on caregivers is also a serious concern. Each person living with dementia relies on an average of 26 hours of informal care per week from family members or friends. Many of the caregivers experience burnout, depression, financial hardship, and social isolation. Home Figure 2: Number of people living with dementia and annual new cases in Canada (2020–2050)Source: Alzheimer Society
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