[Charter] The Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia

People living with dementia deserve dignity, respect and the ability to continue participating in their communities.

The Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia helps ensure these rights are recognized and protected across Canada. Developed with input from people with lived experience, the Charter helps guide advocacy, policies and conversations about dementia.

Understanding these rights is an important step toward building a more dementia-inclusive country.

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What is the Charter?

People living with dementia deserve the same human rights as any other person in Canada, as outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, stigma and discrimination are huge challenges for people living with dementia and often violate these rights. 

That’s why the Alzheimer Society is pleased to support the first-ever Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia. The Charter is the result of work by the National Advisory Group of People with Lived Experience of Dementia, whose members come from many different backgrounds and experiences.   

The Charter defines seven explicit rights. The Charter can empower you to stand up for yourself as a person living with dementia in Canada. It also ensures that the people and organizations that support you will know and protect your rights. 

As a person with dementia, the following rights are especially important to me. I have the right:

1. To be free from discrimination of any kind.

2. To benefit from all of Canada’s civic and legal rights.

3. To participate in developing and implementing policies that affect my life.

4. To access support so that I can live as independently as possible and be as engaged as possible in my community. This helps me:

• Meet my physical, cognitive, social, and spiritual needs,
• Get involved in community and civic opportunities, and
• Access opportunities for lifelong learning.

5. To get the information and support I need to participate as fully as possible in decisions that affect me, including care decisions from the point of diagnosis to palliative and end-of-life care.

6. To expect that professionals involved in my care are:

• Trained in both dementia and human rights.
• Held accountable for protecting my human rights including my right to get the support and information I need to make decisions that are right for me.
• Treating me with respect and dignity.
• Offering me equal access to appropriate treatment options as I develop health conditions other than my dementia.

7. To access effective complaint and appeal procedures when my rights are not protected or respected.