Alzheimer's disease patient Isidora Tomaz, 82, sits in her armchair with two chairs placed in front of her by her husband Amilcar Dos SantosNACHO DOCE
The over who represented the interests of Heli Munroe gets to the heart of the complexities of caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer Society estimates that nearly half a million Canadians live with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. In 25 years, this number will swell to almost 1.3 million in Canada and a recent report estimated the global number of people with Alzheimer's will grow to 115 million by 2050. The society also estimates that for every person with dementia, 10 to 12 other people are directly affected.
The Globe took your questions about patients' rights and how families can best cope when a relative falls ill.
Lawyer Judith Wahl of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly answered your questions about families and patients' legal rights. Kathy Hickman, manager of education for the Ontario division of the Alzheimer Society took your questions about the impact of Alzheimer's disease and services available across the country. Kathy has spent more than 10 years working with a variety of seniors support organizations.