Founded in 1983, Alzheimer Society of Ontario (ALZO) is one of ten provincial Societies working with Alzheimer Society of Canada. The charities work together towards a common goal of a world without dementia. ALZO works closely with 29 local Societies across Ontario to offer care and education programs to people affected by dementia. ALZO also funds research projects and looks to increase awareness of dementia across Ontario to citizens and policy makers. 

Dementia is the umbrella term for a set of chronic diseases affecting the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. 564,000 Canadians are currently living with dementia and ALZO expects this number to grow 66% in the next 15 years. The charity estimates a total cost of $10.4 billion a year to care for those with dementia in Canada. 

ALZO offers many resources to people with dementia, including First Link and Minds in Motion. First Link is a program that connects people affected by dementia to support, information, and resources in their communities. In F2019, ALZO served almost 86,000 clients, received 28,000 new First Link referrals, and responded to more than 340,000 phone or in-person inquiries. Minds in Motion is a community-based program that encourages physical activity and mental stimulation for people with early signs of dementia. In F2019, 3,800 people participated in the program, a 90% increase since F2018. 

Dementia research is done through the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP). The program receives funding from provincial Alzheimer Societies, Alzheimer Society of Canada and outside donors. ASRP gives grants to researchers working to improve the quality of life for those affected by dementia, and to gain deeper understanding of the biomedical foundations of the disease. ALZO’s website provides background information on 6 researchers at Universities in Ontario that received funding in F2019. 

Alzheimer Society of Ontario works to educate healthcare professionals to provide the highest quality care for patients with dementia. ALZO’s U-First! program provides education and training to help healthcare providers understand the person living with dementia and associated behavioral changes, and work as a team to develop individualized support strategies. In F2019, 900 healthcare providers took part in 81 workshops. ALZO also works to raise public awareness to build a dementia-friendly Ontario where people with dementia are understood and supported. In F2019, the charity provided training to 13,500 people with dementia, care partners, and service providers.  

ALZO works with the provincial government and advocates for better support services and policies for people living with dementia and their families. Since the election in June 2018, representatives from ALZO have met with over two thirds of Ontario's MPPs to advocate for those with dementia, including emphasizing the importance of community support services.  

Alzheimer Society of Ontario is a Large charity, receiving $11.6m in donations in F2019. Administrative costs are 21% of revenues (excluding investment income), and fundraising costs are 44% of donations. For every dollar donated, 35 cents go towards the charity’s programs. This is outside of Charity Intelligence’s reasonable range of overhead spending. Funding reserves of $2.5m can cover 45% of annual program costs. This means that ALZO has enough funding to cover 5 months of program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Alzheimer Society of Ontario for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 29, 2019 by Caroline McKenna.