Nova Scotia·NewThe Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia is hosting its annual Community Week, criss-crossing the province to bring dementia resources and education directly to people’s doorsteps.Number of cases in the province expected to almost double by 2050Vernon Ramesar · CBC News · Posted: Sep 24, 2025 3:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoThe Alzheimer Society of Canada projects about 30,000 Nova Scotians will be living with dementia by 2050. ( Lighthunter/Shutterstock)As the number of Nova Scotians living with dementia rises, advocates say the need for community-based support has never been more urgent.An estimated 16,000 Nova Scotians live with the disease which impairs cognitive functions, and that number is expected to increase to about 30,000 by 2050, according to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.”Nova Scotia has a much older population than many other provinces,” says Elaine Moody, a nursing professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax who specializes in health care for older adults.This demographic fact, Moody says, translates directly to more people living with the disease.In response, the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia is hosting its annual Community Week this week, criss-crossing the province to bring dementia resources and education directly to people’s doorsteps.”It’s so important to have those community connections,” says Beth Bennett, the society’s manager of community development. “No one should go through this journey alone.”Beth Bennett is the manager of community development for the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia. (Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia)The events are designed to connect individuals and families with a network of support, from the society’s own programs to local resources.Moody says this local connection is vital because most people with dementia live at home.”They need support in the community to adapt to changes,” she says, emphasizing that this help is crucial for both the individual and their family caregivers.However, providing that support in Nova Scotia comes with specific hurdles, including the province’s large rural population and stigma surrounding the disease.Moody says overcoming these challenges requires moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and instead focusing on connecting people to suitable resources.But, she says, there are reasons for optimism.Moody highlights creative programs like Artful Afternoons at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, which is run in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Nova ScotiaShe says such activities allow people to become “meaningfully engaged” and also offer a valuable social component.Elaine Moody is an associate professor at the Dalhousie School of Nursing who focuses on health care for older people. (Jeremy Taylor)”There is still joy,” Moody says. “There are opportunities for new connections.”This year’s Community Week theme is “Fostering Community,” which is meant to address the isolation many families feel after a diagnosis.Events have already been held in Middle Sackville, Amherst and Chester and will continue in Kentville, Guysborough, Barrington and Belle Côte on Thursday.Moody sees value in these awareness efforts, hoping they will lead to more dementia-friendly initiatives and that those working in public-facing roles will gain more knowledge of dementia.This, she says, will help counter stigma and improve life for everyone affected.
As dementia numbers climb in Nova Scotia, community support serves as a lifeline
