Canadian Dementia Support Organisations
1. Alzheimer Society of Canada 20 Eglinton Avenue West, 16th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4R 1K8 Phone: 416-488-8772 Website: alzheimer.ca
Canada’s leading nationwide health charity supporting people living with all forms of dementia and their caregivers. Offers programmes, support services, education, research funding, and the First Link® referral programme that connects newly diagnosed families to local support as early as possible.
2. Alzheimer Society — Find Your Local Society Phone: 1-800-616-8816 Website: alzheimer.ca/find
Every province and territory has its own Alzheimer Society with dedicated local staff, support groups, education programmes and services. Visit the website or call to find the society nearest to you for in-person and local community support.
3. First Link Dementia Helpline — BC and Yukon English: 1-800-936-6033 Cantonese and Mandarin: 1-833-674-5007 Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm Website: alzheimer.ca/bc
A specialist dementia helpline staffed by trained professionals providing immediate support for anyone personally or professionally affected by dementia in British Columbia and Yukon. Available in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
4. Ontario Caregiver Organisation Phone: 1-833-416-2273 (24 hours, 7 days a week) Website: ontariocaregiver.ca
A not-for-profit funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, offering comprehensive assistance for caregivers from resources to information on peer support groups, through a single point of access including a 24-hour telephone support line.
5. Rare Dementia Support Canada Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, Ontario Toll-free: 1-888-279-2232 Email: rdscanada@nipissingu.ca Website: raredementiasupport.ca
Provides free specialist information and support for people living with, or affected by, a diagnosis of a rarer or young-onset dementia, including frontotemporal dementia and atypical Alzheimer’s disease. Offers one-on-one support, virtual support groups and resources for caregivers across Canada.
6. Provincial Health Lines Phone: 811 (24 hours, 7 days a week) Available in most provinces
Connects callers to registered nurses around the clock for urgent health questions or sudden changes in a person’s condition. Known as Healthlink BC in British Columbia, Health Link in Alberta, and Telehealth Ontario in Ontario. Check your province’s health authority website for the service name in your area.
7. First Nations Health Authority — British Columbia Phone: 1-855-344-3800 Website: fnha.ca
Offers a Virtual Doctor of the Day programme and mental health counselling for Indigenous people in British Columbia without a local doctor. Provides culturally safe support for Indigenous families navigating dementia care.
8. Kids Help Phone Phone: 1-800-668-6868 Text: 686868 (24 hours, 7 days a week) Website: kidshelpphone.ca
A 24-hour bilingual support line for young people up to age 25. Relevant for young caregivers who are supporting a parent or grandparent living with dementia, a group whose needs are often overlooked in caregiving discussions.
9. Lewy Body Dementia Association — Canadian Resources Helpline: 1-800-539-9767 Website: lbda.org
The LBDA’s Lewy Line offers trusted and confidential support services for Canadians diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, their care partners and family members. Provides help identifying Canadian specialist resources, emotional support and referrals.
10. Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence Website: canadiancaregiving.org
Supports and empowers caregivers and care providers by advancing the knowledge and capacity of the caregiving field and advocating for national caregiving policy. Provides research, resources and a growing library of practical tools for family caregivers across Canada.
Practical Notes for Canadian Caregivers
- The First Link gateway In Canada, the First Link programme is your most reliable entry point for support after a dementia diagnosis. Calling your local Alzheimer Society connects you to a network of professionals who can often point you toward programmes and services that are not publicly advertised. It is worth making this call early, even if you feel you are managing.
- Reporting sudden changes accurately When reporting sudden changes in the person you are caring for to a health line or doctor, specific observations carry more weight than general ones. Rather than saying “she seems more confused today,” try “she was managing her meals independently yesterday but today she does not recognise the kitchen.” That kind of comparative detail helps clinicians assess whether something like an infection or dehydration may be involved.
- Young-onset dementia and financial planning If the person you are caring for was diagnosed before the age of 65, ask your doctor specifically for a referral to a young-onset dementia specialist. The financial and social pressures on younger families, including mortgages, dependent children and employment, require a care plan that addresses those realities directly. General dementia services do not always account for them.
- Resistance to personal care When a person with dementia resists bathing or dressing, it is rarely stubbornness. It is more often a response to cold, discomfort, or fear. Warming the bathroom and towels before undressing, and moving slowly without announcing what you are about to do, can reduce distress significantly. Small environmental adjustments often work better than trying to reason through the resistance.
- Caring for yourself Caregiver burnout is a real health risk. The organisations listed above are not just for the person living with dementia. They exist for you too. If you are not sure where to start, calling the Alzheimer Society of Canada or your provincial 811 line is a reasonable first step.