Dementia Numbers in Canada

By 2030, researchers project that nearly 1 million people in Canada will be living with dementia. And they forecast that more than 1.7 million people in Canada will have dementia by 2050. 

• As of January 1, 2024, we estimate that 733,040 people in Canada are living with dementia.
• Every day, more than 350 people in Canada develop dementia. This is more than 15 every hour.
• By 2030, nearly 1 million people in Canada could live with dementia.
• This would be 187,000 new cases a year, 512 a day and 21 an hour, by 2030. Canada could have a 51% increase in the number of new dementia cases a year (Compared to 2020).
• By 2030, the number of people in Canada living with dementia could increase 65% compared to 2020. (From 597,300 to 990,600.)
• 20,000+ Canadians will develop dementia every month in the 2040s.
• By 2050, more than 1.7 million people in Canada could have dementia.
• This would mean, by 2050, 685 people will be diagnosed each day with dementia in Canada, or 29 every hour.
• 6.3 million people in Canada will develop, live with and/or ultimately die with dementia between 2020 and 2050.

Caregiving and Dementia in Canada

• Care partners of older adults with dementia provide 26 hours of care a week, on average. This compares to 17 hours a week for older adults with other health issues. (Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information)
• Every year, family and friends provide more than 470 million hours of care to people living with dementia. This is equivalent to 235,000 full-time jobs.
• Dementia care provided by family and friends in 2022 would equal more than $7.3 billion dollars in Canada alone.
• By 2050, Canada will have more than 1 million care partners for people living with dementia. The care they provide will equal more than 1.4 billion hours per year, or 690,000 full-time jobs.
• The number of care partners would nearly triple (188% increase) over 30 years (2020 to 2050).
• 45% of care partners for seniors living with dementia show symptoms of distress. The distress rate for care partners of seniors with other health conditions is almost half that (26%). (Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information)

The recommendations section of The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada report contains further recommendations for Alzheimer societies, governments, healthcare systems, and researchers.

As dementia progresses, care needs increase and the person with dementia will need supervision and care both during the day and at night. It can become difficult for the care partner to meet the increasing care needs in advanced stages of dementia. Some individuals with dementia tend to leave home if they are unsupervised, leading to concerns about the safety of the individual and wandering. Other factors to consider are the care partner’s physical and mental health and their stress load in addition to the behavioural changes and sleep disturbances experienced by the person with dementia. These things can make it very challenging to care for the person at home. The time to move the person to a care facility varies based on the individuals involved and the situation. The decision is best made by the family. We encourage you to get in touch with us at 1-866-950-5465 or email info@alzheimer.ab.ca

If you have Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, it is important for you to be a part of the decision-making about your financial and legal affairs, while you are able to make decisions and sign legal papers. Making arrangements in the early stages means that you are able to control your own future.

Talk to your family. It is important to ensure that your finances are managed by someone you trust. Arrange for a power of attorney authorizing someone to legally make decisions on your behalf once you are no longer able to. Talk to a lawyer about naming someone to look after your financial interests.

To find an Office of the Public Guardian close to you, please visit the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee | Alberta. They can provide additional information and guidance.