Based on the desk review above, the following have emerged as service provision gaps in South Africa:

• Care pathways and diagnostic services for dementia: Differential diagnostics (types of dementia, co-morbidities influencing symptoms for example dehydration, urinary tract infection, etc.);
• Training of primary healthcare workers to recognise and respond to dementia-care needs;
• Specialist training: (1) Re-institutionalisation of specialist training curricula for geriatric nursing by the South African Nursing Council (SANC) that includes a special focus on dementia treatment, care, and support (nurses are the backbone of the country’s PHC system); and (2) Geriatricians and Psychogeriatricians in both the public and private sector;
• Dementia pharmacological treatments for public service users;
• Non-pharmacological approaches to dementia care: Home-based/community-based dementia-care services (i.e., for public service users that are dementia-specific in terms of care, treatment and support for persons living with dementia and their families). For example, home-based nursing care, respite care, training and support of family carers.