I’ll bet every one of your readers knows someone who has been touched by Alzheimer’s disease. I sure do. Over 70,000 people in B.C. have dementia. That’s a lot of people and it doesn’t include the husbands, wives, family members and friends whose lives are also affected.

I’m concerned that we’re not prepared to deal with a problem that’s getting worse. B.C. has a lot of baby boomers who are reaching the age of increased risk for different kinds of dementia.

We need a plan with money behind it to deal with what is becoming a crisis — not only for people with dementia, but also for taxpayers who will have to pay the resulting rising health-care costs.

That’s why I support Jim’s Push for a Plan. Jim has Alzheimer’s disease and he knows what’s needed — things like support for family caregivers, programs that help with early diagnosis and training for health-care workers.

Anita Kirby

 

Penticton