Oxford Preparing for Expected 'Grey Tsunami'

Monday, 14 September 2015 at 08:56

By 2050 131.5 million people could be living with Alzheimer's disease according to the World Alzheimer Report

OXFORD COUNTY - The World Alzheimer's Report predicts a drastic increase in the number of dementia patients requiring care by 2050.

Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Oxford, Shelley Green, says right now in Oxford County we already see a high percentage of people living with the disease. "We have currently just over 2 000 people diagnosed with the disease. We do have a bit of a higher rate due to the fact that we have more seniors living in Oxford County. We know that many people are moving from larger cities to retire in communities like Tillsonburg and in Woodstock. The number of people living here who are older is higher."

The global amount is expected to rise to 131.5 million people living with the disease by 2050, and Green offers tips on how to keep your mind and memory sharp. "We now know that what's good for your heart is good for your head and your brain. Which means that staying physically active, eating properly, keeping your numbers at a healthy level - cholesterol, your weight, blood pressure - but also keeping your brain stimulated and challenging your brain with new activities: learn something new, memory work, sudoku, crosswords."

As the population lives longer and longer the number of people effected by Alzheimer's disease is expected to double every 20 years reaching nearly 75 million people worldwide by 2030. Green says they are already taking steps to prepare Oxford County for the changes. "Currently we are able to handle the number of people that we're seeing, and we don't have any waiting lists at all for our clients. We know that going forward as we see a much greater increase in the demands on our services we are going to find it very difficult to meet that need so we are looking to our Local Health Integration Network to provide further funding for our organization."

The Alzheimer's Society is also petitioning the government on both a provincial and federal level to come up with a comprehensive plan for the future to ensure Canadians get the care they need.