About Research on Organization of Healthcare Services for Alzheimer's (ROSA)

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are a major concern not only in Quebec but throughout the world. The World Health Organization recognizes Alzheimer's disease and related dementias as a global public health crisis of the 21st century. More than 55 million people worldwide are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and there are approximately 10 million new cases every year. People affected by dementia often face difficulty in accessing assessment, treatment and care services which leads to a lack of support, stress and overload for patients and their caregivers. Unfortunately, healthcare services for these individuals are fragmented and inefficient, resulting in inappropriate use of services and increased healthcare costs. It is estimated that people living with dementia use emergency hospital services twice as often as people living without dementia.

Several organizations have recommended that the prevention, promotion, detection, diagnosis, treatment and care of people living with dementia should be the responsibility of primary care providers. For instance, in Canada, four Canadian consensus conferences, numerous provincial plans (including Quebec), and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences have concurred that this responsibility should be anchored in front-line interdisciplinary clinics (e.g., family medicine groups in Quebec) with the support of specialized professionals.

Decision makers, managers, and health and social care professionals in numerous countries face significant challenges in identifying the most effective methods to optimize healthcare trajectories for people living with dementia (PLWD). They also struggle to provide consistent support to both the individuals affected and their caregivers throughout their entire journey. These challenges include coordinating care across multiple providers, ensuring continuity and quality of care, addressing diverse needs, and managing the complexities of personalized care plans. Additionally, they must navigate resource limitations, varying policy frameworks, and the need for ongoing training and education to stay abreast of the latest best practices and innovations in dementia care.

Understanding the trajectories of individuals within the health and care system, along with the transitions they experience between different clinicians and services, is crucial. This knowledge helps identify the conditions necessary to enhance access to and quality of care for people with TNCM and their care partners. Additionally, it is essential to consider the effects of Alzheimer's policies to ensure that they effectively address the needs of those affected by the disease.

Our Mission:

To produce and transfer knowledge about the organization of services for people living with dementia, in partnership with patients, caregivers, organizations, clinicians, and researchers, with the aim of improving the quality of care for people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Our Objectives:

• Increase the knowledge and ability to care for people living with dementia, particularly in the primary care setting.
• Improve access, quality and continuity of care for people living with dementia.
• Optimize the trajectories of persons living with dementia in order to make sure they receive the appropriate services at the right time.

Our Methods:

• Participatory approach including various stakeholders throughout the research process.
• Evaluative research.
• Mixed methods.
• Causal inference framework.
• Analysis of administrative databases.
• Qualitative studies.

Canadian Provinces and Countries Where Our Team Operates: