Alzheimer Society of Ontario
| Abbreviation | ASO |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1983 |
| Type | Alzheimer's disease charity |
| Legal status | Active |
| Purpose | Advocate, public voice, educator and network |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|
Region served
|
Ontario |
|
Official language
|
English, French |
|
Parent organization
|
Alzheimer Society of Canada |
| Website | http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/on/ |
The Alzheimer Society of Ontario (ASO) is a care and research charity committed to helping people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by:
1983: the Alzheimer Society of Ontario is founded by Madeline Honeyman. After her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Madeline found hundreds of other individuals facing the same issues and problems. She co-founded the Alzheimer Society of Ontario as a way to unify the people who were struggling with the terrible disease.
1989: the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) is launched - a collaborative initiative between the Alzheimer Societies across Canada, partners and donors.
1990: the official opening of the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases established by the University of Toronto with the support of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. In 1995, Dr. Peter St. George-Hyslop at the Tanz Centre would go on to discover two genes, called presenilins, associated with the early onset Alzheimer's disease.
1999: Ontario government announces a provincial Alzheimer Strategy with $68.4 million in funding.
2006: ASO helps launch the Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange (AKE), a web-based forum that links people, ideas and resources to spread the word about innovations in care.
2007: ASO launches First Link, a program connecting people with recent diagnoses of dementia to their local society.
2012: ASO completes a commitment to donate $12 million to the Tanz CRND since it was founded in 1990
2017: The Province of Ontario commits to a provincial wide dementia strategy led by the minister for seniors
Staff and volunteers in 30 Alzheimer Societies across Ontario provide support programs, educational resources and referral services to ease the burden of care and improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. These include:
Local Societies also host important events, which promote awareness and raise funds for research. Coffee Break is the Alzheimer Society's major nationwide annual fundraiser where friends, co-workers and customers gather in communities across Canada to raise funds for local Alzheimer Societies. Participants at these events make a donation in exchange for a cup of coffee. The money raised stays in that province or community to help support local programs and services.
Walk for Alzheimer’s is Canada’s biggest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Money raised supports programs and services in communities that improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their families.
The Alzheimer Society of Ontario develops new programs for people impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. First Link is an innovative program that gives people with dementia and their caregivers and families a direct connection to information and services in their own communities. Ontarians living with dementia receive information about diagnosis, day-to-day living, and positive approaches to care and how to prepare for the end of life. The program also provides individual support and counselling and links people with the disease to other Alzheimer Society programs and services.
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