January 2026
Each January, we honour Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and recognize the realities of dementia and other age-associated memory impairments, support those affected, and advocate for more inclusive aging spaces. For 2SLGBTQI older adults, these conversations are especially urgent. As the first large generation of queer and trans people in Canada to age openly, many carry with them the lifelong effects of discrimination, trauma, and exclusion in the systems meant to care for them.
Egale Canada and the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) continue to spotlight the unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQI older adults impacted by dementia, and the steps we can all take to ensure their identities and dignity are affirmed and protected.
Dementia is not a single disease, but a collection of symptoms caused by brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, mixed dementia, and more. It affects not only memory, but also communication, reasoning, mood, and daily functioning. By 2050, an estimated 1.7 million people in Canada will be living with dementia, and for 2SGBTQI communities, the risk is even higher. Today, the generation of queer and trans people in Canada who are 65 or older have lived through many cultural milestones, celebratory and traumatic, and they are at a higher risk of premature cognitive decline and dementia. Those who have received a dementia diagnosis may continue to face barriers in care.
This month, we have released resources that go into detail on what dementia is, why 2SLGBTQI are at a higher risk, and the barriers they may face after their diagnosis. An understanding of these elements can help families, service providers, caregivers, and community members know about the risks, best practices, and inclusive ways to support 2SLGBTQI aging adults and those impacted by dementia.
To deepen comprehension and strengthen support for 2SLGBTQI people living with dementia, Egale Canada hosted a webinar titled “Help Us Remain: Understanding and Supporting 2SLGBTQI Experiences with Dementia”, generously supported by Alzheimer’s Society of Ontario. This session guides participants through Egale’s research, resources, and practical tools for delivering identity-affirming, inclusive care. The webinar also spotlights the stories of those living with dementia and shares how their lived experiences can provide lessons, inspire, and create conversations on how we can better support 2SLGBTQI folks as they age.
We invite caregivers, service providers, community members, and allies to register for this impactful webinar and deepen their understanding of 2SLGBTQI experiences with dementia.
For more information, visit Egale’s Dementia webpage, where you can explore a range of materials, including the research report Coming Out and Coming In to Living with Dementia, the short film Help Us Remain, and the audiobook Gallery of Memories featuring powerful stories from older 2SLGBTQI adults, with a foreword by Jann Arden. Stay tuned to the NRCA website for upcoming blog posts throughout the year, as we continue sharing insights, tools, and lived experiences to support 2SLGBTQI older adults in aging with dignity, safety, and pride.