Premier Speaks about Dementia Care

In an interview with Rick Cluff on CBC’s Early Edition this morning, Premier Christy Clark addressed the growing prevalence of dementia, the province’s dementia action plan, and a timeline for the new Seniors Advocate.

With 70,000 British Columbians living with dementia, a number that is expected to double over the next 25 years, Premier Clark says, “I’d like to see us be able to provide more spaces for people who suffer from dementia.”

“[Dementia] is a different kind of care… It’s not a kind of care that we typically provide in every hospital setting, we have to be building that into our planning in the long term.”

Looking forward, the Premier explains that dementia care will continue to be a focus of government. “My hope is that over the next few years, many years, we will make sure that we grow our ability to look after these unique patients, along with the number of people who are diagnosed.” Premier Clark says, “We got to figure out how to provide more of those specialized beds for people with dementia.”

The Premier also indicated that dementia care will be a focus of the new Seniors Advocate. “This is going to be front and centre on their agenda because I don’t know if there is any issue more pressing for seniors than health care, and the huge wave of people with dementia.” When asked about an anticipated start date for the new Seniors Advocate, Premier Clark indicated, “If we have the right person there, we can get them up and running in the spring, that’s certainly my hope for it.”