The Law Project number 4364/2020 entitled “The National Policy for Integrated Care for People Living with Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias” recognizes people living with dementia and their carers and tries to provide psychological, social, and clinical support for these persons. In the “Technical Guidelines for Implementing a Healthcare Pathway for Integral Health for Older People” (Brazilian Ministry of Health, 2018e) dementia is recognised as a threat to independent life, strongly impacting on people, family, and carer’s quality of life.

References:

Brazilian Ministry of Health. (2018e). Orientações Técnicas para a Implementação de Linha de Cuidado para Atenção integral à Saúde da Pessoa Idosa no Sistema Único de Saúde—SUS. Ministério da Saúde do Brasil.

The Mental Health Review Report (MHRR) mentions the needs of family carers identified by WHO while including information on dementia and community resources, physical care assistance, training on how to take care of persons with dementia, respite services, emotional support, recognition, and financial assistance (Food and Health Bureau, 2017a, p. 144). Physical care assistance and emotional support are identified as the major support for family carers (Food and Health Bureau, 2017a, p. 169). The Government has provided and have subsidised support for carers, including day and residential respite services, skill training and education, living expenses allowance, and accessible information resources (Food and Health Bureau, 2017a, p. 159). Since family carers usually take care of persons with dementia at the primary role, it is particularly important to help them recognise the signs of illness and provide structured advice along the continuum of care at different stages of dementia. Grieve and bereavement support are also needed in the end-of-life care process (Food and Health Bureau, 2017a, p. 172).

The Elderly Services Programme Plan (ESPP) proposes strategic directions to increase quality of life, age-friendliness, informed choice and timely access to quality services for older people and their family carers (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 13).

References:

Food and Health Bureau. (2017a). Mental Health Review Report.  Retrieved from https://www.fhb.gov.hk/download/press_and_publications/otherinfo/180500_mhr/e_mhr_full_report.pdf.

Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, Elderly Commission of Government of Hong Kong SAR,. (2017). Elderly Services Programme Plan. Hong Kong: Elderly Commission of Government HKSAR Retrieved from https://www.elderlycommission.gov.hk/en/download/library/ESPP_Final_Report_Eng.pdf.

Not applicable.

People with dementia and their family carers are recognised in all action plans. However, the second action plan, advocacy on human rights for people with dementia and their carers specifically call for their recognition as part of its achievement indicators, which include protection of people with dementia through existing regulations and formation of support group for people with dementia and their carers.

The other action plans advise on development of a guidebook and a training programme to educate carers and people with dementia about dementia as well as the planning of financial strategies and improvement of services (including implementation of standards for older people, an effective referral system, and an increase in the quantity and quality of day and home care) (Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, 2015b).

References:

Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia. (2015b). National Strategy: Management of Alzheimer and Other Dementia Diseases: Towards Healthy and Productive Older Persons. Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia.

No data was sourced due to a lack of dementia policy in Jamaica.

People with dementia are recognised in the following lines of action (Gutiérrez-Robledo & Arrieta-Cruz, 2014):

1. Educational programs on the rights of people at the end of life, including topics such as testaments and advance directives.
2. Legal, social, and financial assistance to prevent abuse, violence, or neglect in the care of the person with dementia.
3. Financial support, especially for people with limited economic resources.

The family of the person with dementia is recognised in the following lines of action:

1. To develop a model of training, evaluation, and care for primary caregivers and family members.
2. To promote family guidance for better care and management of their family members affected by dementia.
3. To create programs and training for family members and health personnel in palliative care.
4. To establish facilities for the family primary caregiver.
5. To develop psychological and spiritual support programs.
6. To subsidise or low-cost programmes for funeral and purchase of essential medicines in palliative care at home (e.g., for pain control).
7. To create respite care units for primary caregivers.

References:

Gutiérrez-Robledo, L., & Arrieta-Cruz, I. (2014). Plan de Acción Alzheimer y otras demencias, México 2014. http://diariote.mx/docs/plan_alzheimer_WEB.pdf

NZ Dementia Framework: 

• The framework principles recognise the need for person-directed services that are accessible, proactive and integrated, and flexible to the needs of family/whanau.
• The overarching factors outlined by the dementia framework are explicit in their acknowledgement of the need for culturally appropriate services and family/whānau support and advocacy.
• Woven throughout the documents key elements are the requirements to recognise, acknowledge, and support family and whanau throughout the dementia journey.

Dementia Action Plan: 

• links to the Mahi Aroha-Carers’ Strategy Action Plan 2019-2023 (Ministry of Social Development, 2019) which sets out to recognise carers and their contributions, support the wellbeing of carers, and improve their access to support and services.
• One of the stated goals of the plan is to “decrease the impact of dementia on…whānau/families and communities”.
• A priority area identified is the need to support family/whānau and the action plan outlines what these are and who should be involved.

References:

Ministry of Social Development. (2019). Carers’ Strategy Action Plan 2019–2023. Available from: https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/policy-development/carers-strategy/carers-strategy-action-plan-2019-2023.pdf.

Not applicable as there is no dementia-specific policy or plan for South Africa.