No More Silent Battles - A Documentary on Dementia Care

Dr. Jenny Ingram has been a trailblazer in Geriatric Medicine and seniors’ care throughout her career. A widely respected medical specialist, she broke from convention when she moved away from large cities with medical schools to the city of Peterborough in Central Ontario. There, she founded the Kawartha Centre as a site for international Alzheimer's research trials for her patients. This ensured Dr. Ingram access to the most recent advances in dementia care and medications under development. In 2016, a national research organization of over 30 Canadian sites (C5R/Consortium of Canadian Centres for Clinical Cognitive Research) awarded her their Award of Excellence. For twenty years, she has worked and provided evidence that, contrary to the opinions of many, ALL Family Practice Physicians can be supported to diagnose Alzheimer's Disease and dementia in their patients if trained teams are in place.

Her most enduring work has been the implementation of the 12 small city geriatric teams across eastern Ontario, known as the GAIN teams. This refers to teams for Geriatric Assessment and Intervention, networked across the 12 communities. “I’m very proud of the GAIN teams for so many firsts, including specialist teams that are housed in 12 small rural communities. Imagine such complex work as geriatrics led by Nurse Practitioners with geriatricians to call as needed, and imagine a specialist clinic that can accept self-referrals. These clinics should be replicated across Canada.” They have become a compelling invitation for younger geriatricians to come to the area, where 1 geriatrician in 2010 is now 12, exceeding the number in many provinces.

Jenny Ingram has been recognized for these many research and community building projects with awards including the Ontario Medical Association’s Community Service Award, the Seniors Care Network Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Honourary Doctor of Science from Trent University in 2023.

Dr. Ingram became very concerned during COVID, as she watched how well-intentioned policies were so blind to the impact they had on her patient population. “Pandemic policies isolated people living with dementia from their family caregivers, from sufficient staff, and from basic care, at the doors of hospitals and long-term care - everywhere they turned. That was unacceptable.”

The documentary, No More Silent Battles, is the result. It is her desire to amplify the obvious need for community-based health care in the home. Academics and clinicians know that home care for persons with dementia currently is poor care. Economists recognize that funding home care would be cost-effective. What is missing is the political will to address this Canada health crisis.

I hope No More Silent Battles will fuel a fire of concern and discontent to finally push politicians to ask, “Why has this not changed? What are we waiting for?” No More Silent Battles gives a voice to those who are currently silenced: the people with dementia and their care partners and families. “No More Silent Battles urges us all to be silent no more.”