Understanding health care trajectories of people living with dementia

• People living with dementia follow different health care trajectories. These trajectories reflect the differences in their health care needs and in the supports available.
• More than half of people living with dementia (58%) had home care as part of their trajectory, and almost half of this group (46%) subsequently moved to a long-term care facility. 
• 60% of people living with dementia who moved to long-term care were hospitalized in the 3 months before their move. However, only 12% were hospitalized in the 3 months after they moved to long-term care.
• Caregivers of people living with dementia were more likely to experience feelings of distress, anger and depression compared with those caring for people without dementia.

This report is part of a collaboration between CIHI and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), which provided funding to support this work under the Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative.

CIHI would like to also acknowledge contributions from our provincial partners — British Columbia Office of the Provincial Health Officer, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Institut national de santé publique du Québec — and to thank the caregivers and care providers we spoke with, who provided quotes and perspectives for the report.

Please note that the analyses and conclusions in the report do not necessarily reflect those of the individuals or organizations mentioned above.

• A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Aspire
• Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative
• Dementia in Canada
• Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS)
• A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Achieve — 2023 Annual Report