Call for urgent worldwide action so Alzheimer's patients 'live well with dementia'

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and Bupa have called for governments around the world to make dementia a priority as part of World Alzheimer’s Month this September.

In their report, ‘Journey of Caring: An analysis of long-term care for dementia’ created by a team of researchers from King’s College London, highlighted that as the world population ages the traditional system of ‘informal’ care by family and friends will need much greater support.

Marc Wortmann, executive director, Alzheimer’s Disease International said: “We need to value those that provide frontline care for people with dementia. This includes paid, as well as unpaid family caregivers, who share much in common. Governments need to acknowledge the role of caregivers and ensure that there are policies in place to support them.” The World Alzheimer Report 2013 revealed globally 13 per cent of people have dementia, and it is estimated by 2050 the total number of people with care needs will have increased from 101 to 277 million.

Dr Paul Zollinger-Read, chief medical officer, Bupa, said: “An ageing population around the world means that improving dementia care and support is one of our generation’s greatest healthcare challenges – a challenge we must tackle.

“We’re calling on governments around the world to make dementia a national health priority by developing national dementia plans. National plans ensure that people living with dementia have a good quality of life and friends and family, who often take on the important role of a carer, are properly supported too.” The report recommended frontline carers be adequately trained and appropriate financial reward must be created to retain paid carers, and to sustain the informal care system of family and friend carers.

Acknowledging care homes as an essential component of long term care, the report recommended care homes are monitored by measuring the quality of life for residents, as well as through on-going additional routine inspections.

Autonomy and choice was promoted as important at all stages of the dementia journey for people with dementia and caregivers in order to ensure they have a say in their care pathways.

Professor Martin Prince, from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry and author of the report, said: “People with dementia have special needs. “Compared with other long-term care users they need more personal care, more hours of care, and more supervision, all of which is associated with greater strain on caregivers, and higher costs.

“Their needs for care start early in the disease course, and evolve constantly over time, requiring advanced planning, monitoring, and coordination.

“We need to value the unpaid contribution of family caregivers more, and reward paid caregivers better. We can build quality into our care systems, but to do so while containing costs and achieving equity of access for all will be a challenge.”

Labelling the impact of global dementia as an ‘epidemic’, the report also claimed that research needs to be re-energised in dementia prevention, treatment and care, with an increase in funding by up to ten times as essential. In response to the epidemic, Alzheimer’s Disease International and Home Instead Senior Care, have joined together to host 'Living with Alzheimer’s: A Journey of Caring World Alzheimer Report 2013 Release & Roundtable Discussions'.

Throughout three events held in Washington D.C, London and Bijing, influential healthcare professionals, government officials, journalists, opinion leaders and family caregivers will gather to discuss how to improve life for people who are caring for those with dementia. Roger Baumgart, CEO, Home Instead Senior Care, said: “Studies consistently show that older adults overwhelmingly prefer to age at home, and with support, they can age at home. However, two-thirds of the calls we get every day are from families in crisis.

“Caregiver stress is a driver for transition to institutional care. Interventions that provide support, education and training for caregivers have considerable potential to reduce or delay transition into institutional settings.

“It is our responsibility as a society to determine how we can better support their needs. We are working actively to raise awareness of the needs and challenges for families and to offer the support, educational classes and materials we’ve developed widely available around the world.”