The Liberal stance on dementia

One of the most challenging mental health disabilities, as Canada’s population ages, is Alzheimer’s or dementia among elderly Canadians, which robs individuals of cognitive functions.  The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada defines the disease as the most common form of dementia and explains how it affects behavior, memory, communication, and logical reasoning, which are all significantly diminished.  For anyone who has had a family member suffer from dementia, it is known as one of the most difficult diseases to cope with.  Suddenly your loved one does not recognize you; or leaves the house and cannot find their way back.  Between the ages of 80 and 90, dementia strikes 20-40 percent of Canadians, or a current staggering population of 500,000 people in Canada (Picard, 2010). 

A recent article in the Globe and Mail entitled “Why Canada needs a national strategy on dementia” describes the need for increased care and support as per Liberal party thought (Picard, 2010).    Liberals differ from neo-conservatives in that they believe that individuals and families are not solely responsible for social problems like health issues, or caring for the elderly (Mullaly, 2007).  Liberals see society as people interacting within an interdependent social system, with problems occurring when the system is not balanced (Mullaly, 2007).  The resulting “social disorganization” can only be eliminated by fixing the issue and restoring balance to the system so it works again (Mullaly, 2007). 

In 2004 a Liberal Task force on Seniors suggested all levels of government should establish a home care strategy plan that would become part of our universal health care system (Chappell, 2006).  In the Globe and Mail article, as a dementia solution it is suggested there should be supports in place for families so that dementia sufferers are able to stay at home as long as possible (Picard, 2010).  It is also mentioned that currently, in keeping with conservative thought, it is expected or assumed that if an individual is stricken with dementia, the family should take responsibility for his or her care (Picard, 2010).  It is mentioned that this assumption has families overwhelmed and suffering from extreme stress (Picard, 2010).  This is known as caregiver burden and can cause health problems, and lost wages, if family members have to take time off work to care for the sick  (Chappell, 2006).  In liberal thought this social disorganization leaves the social system off balance (Mullaly, 2007).  The solution suggested in the article, is that the government should educate and support families to better deal with dementia, and not blame them by forcing them to shoulder the burden alone (Picard, 2010).   A recent Liberal Party forum was held in Ottawa to discuss how to decrease the burden on caregivers of people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, which confirms the liberal focus on assisting caregivers (“Liberals are,” 2010).

The idea of government intervention and support makes perfect sense in terms of restoring the status quo, which liberal changes seek to do (Mullaly, 2007).  The untold costs of caregiver burden, not only on the families involved, but on society in general, could potentially be enormous.  One cannot just assume that it is cheaper for Canada to leave care to family members.  The lost productivity at workplaces, plus the increased strain on health care services due to caregiver burden, may far outweigh the costs involved with educating people and providing more resources. 

In my personal life I know the costs of dementia as my late grandmother suffered from a form that the doctors could not exactly diagnose.  In a matter of five years she went from being a talkative, expressive woman, to not being able to talk.  It is a heart-wrenching situation and I saw the effect it had on my grandfather as he struggled to provide care in his home.  Eventually he had to stop because of his increasing age, and a lack of home care supports.  It was the hardest thing he had to do, when he let his wife be committed to a personal care home.  I could see the guilt, so I think that it is very important that real solutions be found to help keep people in their homes as much as possible.  I think families deserve the best supports that are available.  After all, it is easy to forget the contributions that elderly persons afflicted with dementia made to Canada, and the quality of life we enjoy today.

By David Hayward.

                                   Assiniboine River July 6th 2008/D. Hayward

References

Chappell, B. (2006).Social welfare in Canadian society. Toronto, Ontario: Thomson Nelson, 260-61.

Liberal Party. (2010, January 29). Liberals are working for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.  Retrieved from http://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/news-release/liberals-are-working-for-people-living-with-alzheimers-and-dementia/

Mullaly, B. (2007). The new structural social work. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press, 101-02.

Picard, A. (2010, September 17). Why Canada needs a national strategy on dementia. The Globe and Mail.  Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/dementia/why-canada-needs-a-national-strategy-on-dementia/article1712700/

The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. (2010, March). Alzheimer’s disease: what is Alzheimer’s disease? Retrieved from http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/whatisit-intro.htm