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A leading doctor specializing in aging has said the Ontario government is not ready for an expected drastic increase in the number of Alzheimer's patients.
As the baby boomer generation ages, says Doctor Willie Malloy, McMaster Chair of Aging at St. Peter's Hospital, there will be a sudden explosion in the number of incidents of Alzheimer's patients. Moreover, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care is not ready, having not planned for this.
As an example, he cites the fact that there are only three students training in geriatric medicine in Canada this year. Additionally, the University of Toronto hasn't had any applicants to this field for five years now.
He blames these low numbers on the tendency for geriatric medicine to be low paying, unattractive and with little respect.
This is particularly troubling considering the number of Alzheimer's patients has been doubling each year, and currently the government estimates there are 100,000 Ontarians suffering from the disease.
To view the full story in the Hamilton Spectator, click here. |
