The leading cause of death.....

Public Health of Ontario (2018) define chronic diseases as the leading cause of death and disability in Ontario.  Various chronic diseases include cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, dementia, mental illness and addictions. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) defines chronic disease as being long in duration and slow progression. WHO statistics shows in Canada in 2016 the total population of Canadians was 36, 290, 000 with 226, 000 having a chronic disease.  112, 700 males and 113, 500 made up the total amount of chronic diseases.  Also, this number accounted for 88% of all death's from a chronic disease.  Of the 88% of deaths 25%  were from cardiovascular disease, 31% cancers, 7% of respiratory diseases, 3% diabetes and the rest other chronic diseases.  The WHO states chronic illness's share risk factors, can occur at any age and can greatly impact a persons/society's activities of daily living and quality of life and require ongoing action of managing the disease/s.  A chronic disease also affects the health care system through the rising cost of chronic disease.  In December, 2011, the Provincial Government released "Improving Health Together: A Policy Framework for Chronic Disease Prevention" to assist persons with a chronic disease and with the rising numbers chronic disease in Canada (The Ministry of Long-Term Care, 2018).  The Ministry of Long-Term Care (2018) states chronic illness is a huge burden on the provinces health care system, is the leading cause of death to Canadians and is responsible for a high rate of morbidity and negatively impacts communities and the economy.

Government of Canada. (2018). Dementia. The Government of Canada; Diseases and Conditions.  Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public- health/services/diseases/dementia.html

Mandzuk, L. L. (2017). Personalized music...so simple yet so powerful: a pilot initiative for hospitalized older adults living with dementia in an acute care facility. Perspectives, 40(2), 15-18.

Ministry of Long Term Care. (2018). Chronic diseases prevention guideline, 2018.  Ministry of Long Term Care. retrieved from http://health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/oph_standards/docs/protocols_guidelines/Chronic_Disease_Prevention_Guideline_2018.pdf

World Health Organization. (2018). Guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia. World Health Organization. Retrieved from

https://www.who.int/nmh/countries/2018/can_en.pdf?ua=1