The Alzheimer Society Grey-Bruce is joining other organizations in calling for all federal parties to commit to funding a national dementia strategy.
Executive Director Stephen Musehl said the need is particularity acute in Midwestern Ontario.
"We have one of the oldest populations in Canada," Musehl said. "Our client numbers are increasing and the services that they are able to access are decreasing with the shortage of PSWs and other resources."
In June, the federal Liberals announced a $50 million, five-year dementia strategy. While he commends the move, Musehl says it's not enough.
"Ten million dollars a year over five years is less than one one-hundredth of a per cent of the annual cost of dementia," he said, adding that does not include the 19 million hours of unpaid care giving.
The problem in Grey-Bruce is only getting worse. Musehl said about 25 per cent of the people living in the two counties are seniors so its population is aging much faster than the rest of Canada on average.
A recent survey of CARP members (Canadian Association of Retired Persons) found that the number one concern was dementia.
