About the Algoma Dementia Network

In 1999, Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias was launched by the Ontario government with an investment of $70 million over five years. The "Strategy" consisted of ten initiatives aimed at improving dementia care in Ontario, including:

Staff education and training
Physician training
Increase in public awareness , information and education
Planning for appropriate, safe and secure environments
Respite services for caregivers
Research on caregiver needs
Advance directives on care choices
Psychogeriatric consulting resources
Coordinated specialized diagnosis and support
Intergenerational volunteer initiative.

Initiative 9(a) called for regions across Ontario to develop Dementia Networks to improve the system of care for persons with dementia, and their families and caregivers. Today, 36 communities in Ontario have formed dementia networks.

In Algoma, initial discussions about the possibility of forming a dementia network occurred in June 2002. At that meeting, participants decided to move forward with the formation of a district-wide network. The Alzheimer Society agreed to provide administrative support to the network. A working group was formed to draft terms of reference, and in November 2002, the first meeting of the Steering Committee took place. An inventory of existing services was done in January/February of 2003 and facilitated the identification of gaps in services.

The Algoma Dementia Care Network consists of a Steering Committee and two working groups: the Client Services Working Group, and the Education Committee. Each group has taken on specific gaps in service that need to be addressed. For example, the Client Services Working Group took on the Care Map project which saw approximately 575 posters of dementia care services distributed to providers in the Algoma District in order to make providers more aware of existing programs and hopefully increase referrals to appropriate services. The Education Committee has taken on the task of physician education as its first goal.

In June 2002, the Algoma Dementia Care Network received $5,000 in funding to assist with the development of the network. Some of the funding was spent to cover costs related to distribution of materials as well as travel of network members. In October 2003, the Steering Committee decided to use the remaining money to create a Dementia Network website.

Steering Committee Minutes

Dec 5, 2007 - 64 KB
Sept 19, 2007 - 68 KB
May 23, 2007 - 68 KB
March 20, 2007 - 64 KB
Dec 5, 2006 - 58 KB
Sept 19, 2006 - 68 KB
Dec 6, 2005 - 84 KB
Sept 13, 2005 - 64 KB
June 16, 2005 - 76 KB
Mar 22, 2005 - 64 KB
Nov 30, 2004 - 56 KB
Sept 20, 2004 - 68 KB
June 29, 2004 - 56 KB
May 11, 2004 - 64 KB
Mar 9, 2004 - 52 KB
Dec 9, 2003 - 56 KB
Oct 28, 2003 - 64 KB
Sept 8, 2003 - 68 KB
Jan 29 , 2003 - 48 KB
Nov 20, 2002 - 56 KB