Dementia is a leading cause of disability and dependency globally. It is a syndrome, usually of a chronic or progressive nature, that leads to deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. ability to process thought) beyond what would be expected from normal ageing. Dementia can be overwhelming not only for the person who has it, but also for carers, families and society as a whole. Globally, a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia continues to lead to widespread stigmatization and discrimination, which may prevent people from accessing diagnosis and care. The World Health Organization (WHO) has long recognized the importance of addressing dementia and the need for increased investments in health and social care systems. The First Ministerial Conference on Global Action Against Dementia was held in March 2015, convening health ministers and delegations from 89 countries around the world to discuss comprehensive actions to address dementia. Two years later, WHO Member States unanimously approved the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025. Further, WHO’s Global Dementia Observatory (GDO) was established to monitor global progress on key targets and indicators within these action areas.
The report “Dementia: a public health priority” has been jointly developed by WHO and Alzheimer's Disease International. The purpose of this report is to raise awareness of dementia as a public health priority, to articulate a public health approach and to advocate for action at international and national levels.
An advocacy brief calling for stronger multisectoral action to promote and enable more physical activity through provision of supportive environments, accessible programmes and sustained communication campaigns in all communities. It provides global guidance on priority actions and is suitable for use by advocates, government and non-government organizations.
Research and innovation are integral parts of the global response to dementia. Yet, the Global status report on the public health response to dementia shows that despite some encouraging efforts most countries are far from reaching the adopted targets of the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025. This blueprint for dementia research summarizes the current state of dementia research across six broad themes, identifies existing knowledge gaps, and outlines 15 strategic goals with actions and timebound milestones to address these gaps. The blueprint also outlines drivers of research that together create an enabling research environment that is essential for accelerating dementia research globally. Going forward, the blueprint will guide policymakers, funders, and the research community on future activities in dementia research, and contribute to making dementia research more efficient, equitable, and impactful.
The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, 2021-2030 (the Decade) was endorsed by the 73rd World Health Assembly and proclaimed as a United Nations Decade by the General Assembly in December 2022. WHO and UN partners are required to report on progress in the Decade to WHA and UNGA in 2023, 2026 and 2029. Complementary to, and in support of these reports, WHO and UN partners have produced an additional external facing report in 2023, demonstrating progress made in the first two years of the Decade. The purpose of this report is to: assess the extent of progress made in the first phase of implementation of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, from 2021 to mid-2023; present contributions to the Decade being made by stakeholder groups, including Member States, UN agencies, civil society, academia, the private sector, community groups and older people themselves; and inspire and motivate stakeholders to collaborate in their continued efforts to implement the Decade at country level and scale up interventions to ensure healthy ageing.
“This book is a must read for those wanting to understand, design and improve our approach to workforce knowledge in dementia care.” Paul Edwards, Director of Clinical Services, Dementia UK “Its person-centred, theory and practice-based approaches to learning make it an essential book for everyone involved in the delivery, review and commissioning of dementia education." Dr Anna Jack-Waugh, Senior Lecturer in Dementia, Senior Fellow HEA, Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy, and Practice, the University of the West of Scotland, UK “A relevant, innovative, and important book that can underpin better education and training in dementia care.” Jesper Bøgmose, Associate Professor, Cand. Cur., Faculty of Health, University College Copenhagen, Denmark In the last twenty years the evidence-base for how to provide person-centred care for people with dementia has grown significantly. Despite this until recently there has been little evidence as to how to provide training and education for the dementia workforce. This book provides an evidence-based practical resource for people intending to develop, deliver, review, or commission education and training for the dementia workforce. Throughout, the book: • Considers the importance of informal routes and mechanisms for workforce development • Examines the importance of context and setting conditions for successful implementation of training at individual, service and organisational level • Contains up-to-date international research evidence, case studies and vignettes Education and Training in Dementia Care: A Person-Centred Approach is an accessible text aimed at all levels of prior experience, from those studying and working in health and social care services and private and third sector organisations who are responsible for the training and development of their staff, to commissioners of training or those who wish to take advice to inform their practice. The Reconsidering Dementia Series is an interdisciplinary series published by Open University Press that covers contemporary issues to challenge and engage readers in thinking deeply about the topic. The dementia field has developed rapidly in its scope and practice over the past ten years and books in this series will unpack not only what this means for the student, academic and practitioner, but also for all those affected by dementia. Series Editors: Dr Keith Oliver and Professor Dawn Brooker MBE. Claire Surr is Professor of Dementia Studies and Director of the Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University, UK. Isabelle Latham is Researcher-in-Residence for Hallmark Care Homes, UK and Honorary Senior Research Fellow for the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester, UK. Sarah Jane Smith is a Reader in Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University, UK.
This book explores the practical application of recent improvements in technology for people living with dementia and highlights the positive outcomes on care, quality of life, and services on patients through exploration of 15 research projects to redefine the future of dementia care. Using research compiled in collaboration with leading universities and organisations across Europe, this book demonstrates how INDUCT’s (Interdisciplinary Network for Dementia Utilising Current Technology's) findings resulted in implications for practical cognitive and social factors to improve the usability of technology, evaluating the effectiveness of specific contemporary technology, and tracing facilitators and barriers for implementation of technology in dementia care. Featuring a unique training programme along with a wide range of patient-public involvement, this state-of-the-art volume will be essential reading for researchers, academics and scholars in the fields of dementia and mental health research, gerontology, psychology and nursing.
Singapore is the world’s second-fastest ageing society and will become a super- aged society by 2030. This book fills an important research gap by examining Singapore’s efforts to achieve healthy ageing. It draws on both semi-structured interviews and secondary data (e.g. government documents, journal articles, books, reports) to examine hot topics such as financial wellness of older adults, ageing in place, dementia friendly communities and digital connection with older adults in the time of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the interviews, experts and professionals provide valuable insights into the issue of healthy ageing in Singapore. The book ’s goal is to provide a comprehensive portrait of healthy ageing in Singapore, while also sharing valuable lessons to help other countries achieve healthy ageing.
