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Providing rare or young onset dementia support across Canada

Daughter with arm around father smiling

Who we are

RDS Canada provides a free information and support service for people living with, or affected by, a diagnosis of rarer or young onset dementia. We are a community of people in similar circumstances and specialist practitioners providing timely and tailored practical, emotional and social support.

Our focus is:

  • Young onset Alzheimer’s disease
  • Familial Alzheimer’s disease
  • Frontotemporal dementia
  • Familial frontotemporal dementia
  • Progressive primary aphasia
  • Posterior cortical atrophy
  • Lewy body dementia
Virtual meeting

How we can support you

Our support specialists are here to speak with you. Sometimes people just need a bit of information and at other times people may need a listening ear or emotional support by meeting up with others who feel the same.

We also offer information and advice for practitioners who work with people affected by rare or young onset dementia in a variety of settings. Working together is important to respond to a range of support needs, whether someone has just been diagnosed or whether they have been living with dementia for some time.

Welcome, Bonjour, Aaniin! Join our community.

If you need information or support and would like to connect with us, you can:

Find information and support that is right for you

If at any time you feel overwhelmed with the information provided in our website, click here for supportive tools.

News & Updates

PPA (Primary Progressive Aphasia) Support Group

This support group is for people living with a diagnosis of PPA along with their main supporter, who may be a family member or friend. The PPA 4 Week Welcome Group helps members build connection, learn and share practical strategies for living better, living well as family or friend supporting someone with a diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia. The Welcome Group is offered as a first stage group where members are then invited to participate in an ongoing monthly PPA support group after these first four weeks. These sessions are happening on Mondays, July 10th, July 17th, July 24th, July 31st from 1 pm – 2:30 pm EST.

Living with Dementia in the Later Stages

This group aims to provide practical information, education and emotional support for families impacted by a rare or young onset dementia during the late stages of the disease. Sessions will cover a range of topics with practical advice, provide a safe space for participating members to share experiences and include educational information. The sessions will start on September 14, 2023 (12 pm – 2 pm EST) and will run for seven weeks ending on October 26, 2023.

FTD (Frontotemporal Dementia) Support Group

This support group is for family or friends/caregivers to someone with a Frontotemporal (FTD) diagnosis. The Welcome Group is offered as a first stage group where members are then invited to participate in an ongoing monthly FTD support group after these first four weeks. These sessions are happening on Mondays, May 29th, June 5th, 12th, 19th from 1 pm – 2:30 pm EST.

Identification Cards: New Resource Available

Printable, diagnosis specific wallet size cards are now available from RDS Canada. 

We want to hear from you…

Your input is important to us! Your opinions and experiences help us to improve our services.

Our National Launch

Rare Dementia Support Canada celebrated its official opening!

Where to Begin – Poetry Installation at Nipissing University

A poetry installation exploring what it is like to live with a rarer dementia