London Alzheimer's Society tries to keep up with rising dementia rates

For thosewho work with dementia patients, it's no surprise that more people are being diagnosed with dementia than a decade ago.

CEO of the Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners (ASSP) Carol Walters says the number of referrals the society has received recently are "unheard of."

"We're currently seeing about 150 new referrals a month coming to the Alzheimer's Society," she told CBC London.

The number of people in Ontario with dementia has rapidly increased since 2010,a new study by the Ontario Medical Association found.

There has been a 48 per cent increase, according to an analysis of Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing released by the OMA on Thursday.

There are currently around 14,000 people in London region with dementia.Walters said the society projects that by 2030, in just six years, there will be around18,630.

Some of the reasons, she said, is an aging baby boomer population with longer life expectancies.

The increasing number of patients, Walters said, makes the need for the Alzheimer Society's services greater.

The ASSPprovides services to patients with dementia and their caregivers, including educational resources, counselling and day programs.

She said the ASSP was an important resource for herself and her father when her own mother had Alzheimer's disease.

"The education programs are outstanding, and with a disease like this, knowledge is power.And it will help withyour quality of lifethe more you know and the more of what you expect."

Volunteers essential to services

Scott Shakirhas been volunteering with theASSPfor about a year workingon fundraisingandhelpingeducate grade school and nursing students on dementia.

Most recently he has spent time at The Social in Elgin County, a program where people with dementia do activities and socialize with volunteers, which helps with cognitive function and gives caregivers a break.

Shakir is one of 430 volunteers Walters saidare crucial to keeping the society's programs running.

"There's no way we could continue or we could work at the level we work with or provide the level of service that we provide without our community," she said.