Improved care for dementia patients in Belleville

By Olivia Timm

BELLEVILLE – The head of the Alzheimer Society of Hastings-Prince Edward says she’s excited about the Ontario government’s commitment to improving care for dementia patients.

The government is hiring 46 patient navigators who will be assigned to individuals living with dementia. These navigators will provide them and their families with access to local programs, doctors, health centres, counselling, day-to-day information and more, according to a news release.

The hiring of the navigators is part of the Alzheimer’s Society First Link program, which is designed for newly diagnosed patients.

Maureen Corrigan, executive director of the Hastings-Prince Edward Alzheimer’s society, says the government’s funding for this initiative will help those living with the disease in the Belleville area.

“For our local society it will mean we are able to strengthen even further our partnerships with local agencies and primary care practitioners.”

The goal of the program is to ensure patients get proper care as close to the time of diagnosis as possible.

The care providers will reach 14,000 patients across Ontario.