Toronto, ON – October 3, 2025 — More than 130 clinical experts from across Ontario have come together to define the core clinical activities essential to high-quality dementia care, in a landmark consultation co-hosted by Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario (PGLO), the Alzheimer Society of Ontario (ASO), and the Behavioural Supports Ontario Provincial Coordinating Office (BSO PCO).
The resulting report, Defining Core Dementia Care Clinical Activities: Report of a Consultation on Dementia Care in Ontario, provides foundational guidance to inform the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Provincial Framework for Dementia Care, as mandated by the Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act, 2024.
“This report reflects a shared vision for a future where individuals living with dementia—and those who support them—receive timely, compassionate, and coordinated care,” said Dr. Kelly Kay, Executive Director of PGLO. “It’s a call to action for system-wide integration, workforce development, and culturally safe, person-centred dementia care” noted Dr. Kay.
“This report is a testament to the strength of integrated partnerships and shared clinical expertise in enhancing dementia care across Ontario,” said Monica Bretzlaff, Director, Behavioural Supports Ontario Provincial Coordinating Office, North Bay Regional Health Centre. She continued, “by building on our strong collective foundations, we have an ideal opportunity to continue to drive transformative care that is personalized, coordinated, and responsive to the diverse and evolving needs of individuals living with dementia and their care partners.”
Key Findings:
The report outlines clinical activities across the dementia care continuum, including:
- Prevention: Lifelong, community-wide efforts to promote brain health and reduce risk.
- Screening: Risk-based, accessible screening supported by standardized tools and referral pathways.
- Assessment: Multidisciplinary, person-centred assessments tailored to individual needs.
- Diagnosis: Accurate, timely diagnosis linked to care planning and supported by advanced diagnostics.
- Care Planning: Proactive, evolving care plans that incorporate legal, safety, and psychosocial considerations.
- Treatment & Management: Holistic approaches addressing medical, behavioural, and social needs.
The report also identifies system-level enablers to support implementation, including:
- Building interprofessional teams and addressing workforce shortages.
- Embedding dementia-specific tools into clinical workflows.
- Ensuring culturally safe and equitable care across all settings.
- Supporting early access through public awareness and education.
Next Steps:
The report will inform the Ministry’s development of the Provincial Framework and guide future service design, funding models, and policy standards. It also calls for continued engagement with people living with dementia and their care partners to ensure lived experience shapes future care. “We look forward to sharing the report with the government in support of the dementia care framework envisioned in the Improving Dementia Care in Ontario Act. This report is a consolidation of feedback from clinical colleagues, who provide an essential perspective on what a dementia care system should look like and how the government can take action,” said Cathy Barrick, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.
To read the full report, click the link in the side bar.