Alzheimer support leads to $1.3B in health-care savings: survey

Bruce and Deb Weber (Photo courtesy of Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners) A new survey report from Western University's BrainsCAN , in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario , found programs and services provided by the province's 27 Societies deliver savings of $1.3 billion for Ontario's health-care system. The savings are generated from the Alzheimer Society's support for care partners and individuals living with dementia, resulting in: an average of 2.11 fewer hospital visits per year for care partners who reported avoiding crises because of Alzheimer Society support. a delayed need in accessing long-term care by an average of 1.38 years, reported by care partners who indicated Alzheimer Society support postponed their decision to access assisted living or long-term care. more confidence providing care at home, with 28.4 per cent of care partners providing care at home noting they would have likely accessed long-term care at the time of taking the survey if it had not been for the Alzheimer Society's support. The importance of providing care at home is something Deb Weber knows about first-hand. Deb's husband Bruce, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in 2011 at the age of 61, was happiest being at home in familiar surroundings. "At home, he was part of our family." Originally set to enter long-term care in 2016, the Weber family was able to keep Bruce home until 2019, thanks to support from the local Alzheimer Society.