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New Alberta website tackles dementia in the workplace

10% of Albertans diagnosed with dementia were age 40 to 65 last year
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The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories has launched a new website to help workers and employers. (Image from Facebook)

The Alzheimer Society has launched a new website to support the growing number of Alberta workers with dementia and their employers.

DementiaAlberta.ca, hosted by Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories, will also help those in the workforce who are caring for someone with dementia.

The society said among the 50,000 Albertans diagnosed with dementia last year, nearly 10 per cent were between the ages of 40 and 65 and likely to be in the workforce.

Christene Gordon, provincial lead for client services with Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories, said a website makes the information accessible to people in rural Alberta, and it’s helpful for small businesses.

“One of the advantages is truly the idea of one-stop shopping, particularly for those organizations and companies that don’t have access to a large HR department,” Gordon said.

“There’s information on what to look for, warning signs, how to work with the person, conversations to have, accommodations that can be made.”

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Data shows that one in three Albertans – or 30 per cent – were either living with dementia, or had experience caring for someone with dementia, in 2021.

“Dementia is a progressive illness and many people – employers and employees - assume a diagnosis is the signal for working Albertans to exit the workforce,” said George Andrews, chief executive officer of the Alzheimer Society, in a statement.

“In reality, every Albertans’ situation is unique and DementiaAlberta.ca will help Alberta employers and employees navigate this important decision more confidently together.”

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The website is the result of a collaborative effort between the Alzheimer Society, Alberta employers, Albertans living with dementia, and care partners, with funding from the province in support of the Alberta Dementia Strategy and Action Plan.

“Alberta Health is proud to have provided funding for this valuable online resource. It will help employers and employees in the province be more aware of how to create a dementia-inclusive workforce and assist Alberta on how to support someone living with dementia,” said Health Minister Jason Copping in a statement.

“These easy to find resources will benefit Albertans so they can have better-informed and compassionate conversations in the workplace.”

DementiaAlberta.ca also includes resources for anyone seeking to maintain brain health and understand the relationship between brain health and dementia.



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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