National Dementia Strategies: What Should Canada Learn?

Authors

  • Selina Chow Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto
  • Ronald Chow Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto
  • Angela Wan Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto
  • Helen R. Lam Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto
  • Kate Taylor Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto
  • Katija Bonin Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto
  • Leigha Rowbottom University of Toronto
  • Henry Lam Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto
  • Carlo DeAngelis Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto
  • Nathan Herrmann Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5770/cgj.21.299

Keywords:

dementia, national dementia strategy, government, policy

Abstract

Background

In order to provide appropriate care for the aging population, many countries are adopting a National Dementia Strategy (NDS). On June 22, 2017, Canada announced it will become the 30th country to launch a NDS. In light of this announcement and as Canada prepares to develop its own NDS, we conducted this review to examine and compare the NDSs of the other previous 29 countries with Canadian government’s policies to date.

Methods

NDSs were compared according to their major priorities. The primary endpoints were the framework conditions and key actions outlined in the strategies. Secondary endpoints included the years active, involvement of stakeholders, funding, and implementation.

Results

We were able to review and compare 25 of the 29 published NDSs. While the NDSs of each country varied, several major priorities were common among the strategies—increasing awareness of dementia, reducing its stigma, identifying support services, improving the quality of care, as well as improving training and education and promoting research.

Conclusions

This review comprehensively lists and compares the NDSs of different countries. The results should be of great interest to policy-makers, health-care professionals and other key stakeholders involved in developing Canada’s forthcoming NDS. We hope that policy-makers in Canada can review other NDSs, learn from their example, and develop an effective NDS for our country.

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Published

2018-07-09

How to Cite

1.
Chow S, Chow R, Wan A, Lam HR, Taylor K, Bonin K, Rowbottom L, Lam H, DeAngelis C, Herrmann N. National Dementia Strategies: What Should Canada Learn?. Can Geriatr J [Internet]. 2018 Jul. 9 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];21(2):173-209. Available from: https://cgjonline.ca/index.php/cgj/article/view/299

Issue

Section

Systematic Reviews/Meta-analysis