 |
 |
|
Media Advisory
Canada s First Multicultural
and Multilingual Memory Clinic for People with Alzheimer Disease and Dementia
For Immediate Release, January 20, 2003 (Toronto):
An estimated 1 in 13 or 364,000 Canadians over the age of 65 have Alzheimer
Disease or a related dementia. Many of these individuals have a mother
tongue other than English. Providing assessment and treatment for people
from diverse ethnoracial and multicultural backgrounds will now be improved
as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) launches CanadaÕs
first Multicultural Multilingual Memory Clinic.
The clinic will make use of multilingual staff to apply the most up-to-date
assessment tools. Gold standard tests from countries around the world
have been obtained. Services will be provided in a range of different
languages including English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Greek,
Hindi, Mandarin and Cantonese with plans to expand service to other language
groups based on client needs.
ÒThere is a growing aging multicultural population in Toronto and the
GTA and their mental health needs have become a major concern to CAMH.
Many clients have difficulty accessing services due to the language barrier
and remain without a diagnosis or treatment. This is a much-needed clinic
in a growing diverse community where no other service of this kind exists,Ó
says Dr. Luis Fornazzari, director of the clinic and a renowned expert
in the treatment of Alzheimer Disease and dementia.
Presenters at the launch will include:
- The Honourable Carl DeFaria, M.P.P. Minister of Citizenship and Minister
Responsible for Seniors
- Dr. Paul Garfinkel, President and CEO, Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health
- Francoise Hebert, Executive Director, Alzheimer Society of Toronto
- Dr. Luis Fornazzari, Clinical Director Neuropsychiatry and Geriatric
Psychiatry, CAMH Assistant Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and
Division of Neurology Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto
- When:
- Wednesday January 22, 2003, 12 to 1 p.m. Ribbon cutting ceremony
and tour of clinic to follow presentations
- Where:
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Workman Theatre Auditorium
1001 Queen Street West
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is a Pan American Health
Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre and a
teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.
For further information, please contact Anne Ptasznik, Media
Relations Coordinator, 416-595-6015.
Note for Editors: January is Alzheimer Awareness Month
|
|
|
|
1-800-463-6273
