New report shows link between identity and risk of dementia

In recognition of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Egale, Canada’s leading organization for 2SLGBTQ+ people and issues, has launched the Help Us Remain Campaign – shedding light on the hidden challenges faced by the community in dementia care. The initiative comes on the heels of their research report titled, Enhancing Support for 2SLGBTQI People Living with Dementia and Their Primary Unpaid Carers.

“It’s not enough that you already have this horrible, horrible illness. But then to have to get the care that you need and know that it’s not going to be forthcoming or it’s going to be problematic for you to receive it, that’s a huge concern,” says Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada.

The campaign is based on Egale’s recent report, titled “Enhancing Support for 2SLGBTQI People Living with Dementia and Their Primary Unpaid Carers.”

“Our community has known anecdotally for quite some time that dementia and cognitive impairment is an issue,” Kennedy says.

Older generations “have experienced oppression and discrimination. Whether it’s decriminalization, the AIDS crisis, fighting for marriage or fighting to include gender identity and gender expression in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the criminal code – these are all issues that they have had to deal with just to exist within Canada. And that doesn’t take into consideration the day-to-day discrimination that they would face either at work or in educational institutions. That kind of cultural trauma has a very negative impact,” Kennedy explained.

Intended to bring together Canadians to confront this community issue, the “Help Us Remain” campaign unveils untold stories of 2SLGBTQI people across Canada who are living with or have a connection to dementia through an immersive gallery, paired with an evocative short film of the same name.

This, as a new report from the Alzheimer Society of Canada found that by 2050, the number of those living with neurocognitive disorders in the country could jump by 187 per cent. In addition, the province of Quebec could see a possible increase in cases of 145 per cent within the same time period.

“I think it’s incumbent upon the broader public to be very aware of how to address folk who are members of the 2SLGBTQI community, make sure that they’re safe in these environments and that they’re getting the respect that they need in order to age and dignity,” Kennedy told CityNews, adding “chosen family is a very big part of how we exist [..] and so many rely on community and friends to help as they age.