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understanding the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia

participate in a survey to help ccsmh identify opportunities in the development of new resources related to bpsd.

behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (bpsd) can affect the quality of life for people living with dementia. getty

for many people living with dementia, changes to mood and behaviour are common. these behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (bpsd) can affect the quality of life for people living with dementia, their friends, families and health care providers supporting them.

currently over 600,000 canadians are diagnosed with dementia and 125,000 more are diagnosed each year. while it is often thought of as changes to memory or thinking, changes in people’s mood and their behaviour also occur in over 80 per cent of people diagnosed with dementia. covid-19 highlighted how much factors like stress and isolation can contribute to these behaviours with many people experiencing worsening of their mood or greater use of medications to manage behaviours.

helping people requires that health care providers, those living with dementia and their care partners, are equipped with knowledge and tools to understand what is causing these changes and how best to help in a person-centred way.

take part in a survey to help us understand the tools needed in the assessment and management of bpsd

we are conducting a brief survey of healthcare providers, older adults and care partners to better understand the tools, resources and websites that are currently being used in the assessment and management of bpsd. this will also help the ccsmh to identify opportunities to develop new resources related to bpsd. click here to complete the survey

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ccsmh is developing new bpsd clinical guidelines to be launched in 2024

the ccsmh is developing new guidelines on the assessment and management of bpsd. the guidelines will provide people living with dementia, caregivers, and health care professionals with evidence-based recommendations and resources for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of bpsd.

the coalition is bringing together people with lived experience, researchers and healthcare providers to identify best practices to prevent and treat behavioural and psychological changes in dementia and develop guidelines, resources and tools that can be shared across canada.

if you have experience or interest in this topic, please email jennifer.porter@ucalgary.ca.

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