The Ministry of Health tries to conduct dementia awareness campaigns in the whole country, every year in September. Actions carried out by dementia associations also greatly contribute to increase dementia awareness, stigma reduction, and the development of dementia-friendly communities. These types of action are supported by the Older People’s Statute as they contribute to increase attention and protection of older people (Presidency of Republic of Brazil, 2003).

References:

Presidency of Republic of Brazil. (2003). Estatuto do Idoso. Presidency of Republic of Brazil; National Congress of Brazil’s Information System. http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/2003/l10.741.htm

The Mental Health Review Report (MHRR) proposes two recommendations on increasing public education and dementia-friendly neighbourhood.

• “Recommendation 1 – Public education should be strengthened by promoting healthy lifestyles, better understanding and awareness of dementia, encouraging help-seeking behaviour and reducing stigma associated with dementia” (Food and Health Bureau, 2017a, p. 184).
• “Recommendation 7 – Social care infrastructure should be strengthened to allow people with dementia to remain in the community for as long as possible” (Food and Health Bureau, 2017a, p. 188).

The Elderly Services Programme Plan (ESPP) proposes two recommendations about promoting age-friendly environment, healthy lifestyle, and active social participation amongst older people.

• “Recommendation 1 – Public education should be strengthened to promote positive image of elderly persons, enhance their status and role in society, and foster positive inter-generational relations” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 20).
• “Recommendation 3a – Promotion of healthy lifestyle should be of paramount importance in improving the quality of life of elderly persons and in reducing the risk of age-related diseases” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 20).

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.

The Kerala State Initiative on Dementia (KSID) (Social Justice Department and ARDSI, 2014) addresses dementia awareness and dementia friendly initiatives (through campaigns, pledges, and sensitisation events) at a subnational level.

References:

Social Justice Department and ARDSI (2014). Kerala State Initiative on Dementia. Alzheimer’s Disease International.

Raising awareness of dementia through dementia awareness campaigns was set as the first action point of the policy. These campaigns are supposed to be held by revising older programmes and creating new programmes that promote healthy lifestyles, as well as raise awareness of risk factors and protective factors. The campaigns are set to be distributed through schools, families, and society. However, the policy does not provide information about their anticipated content or whether it aims to reduce stigma and/or support the creation of dementia-friendly communities (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.

Not applicable.

It raises the need to consider dementia as a public health problem, integrating civil society, private institutions, and industry in the fight against dementia, against discrimination, and to promote mobilisation.

NZ Dementia Framework:

Dementia awareness and risk reduction is the first key element of the dementia framework. Its stated aim is to “use both local and national efforts to make New Zealanders more aware of the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle, which may reduce the risk of developing dementia. Greater awareness will also increase the social acceptance, inclusion, and wellbeing of those living with dementia.”

Local, regional, and national good practice points are provided, for example:

– “dispel the myths and assumptions of dementia by promoting accurate information and raising awareness of positive aspects of living with dementia as a chronic condition.” 

– “recommend that education on dementia be included in applicable national training programmes for health practitioners (e.g., nurses, doctors, allied health professionals) and the unregulated workforce (e.g., home and community support workers)”.

There are also recommendations for inclusive communities maximising media opportunities and future planning (for example, advance care planning and choosing an EPOA).

Dementia Action Plan:

One of the four action areas of the dementia plan is “Building accepting and understanding communities – Stigma and a lack of awareness, poor understanding and barriers to inclusion are among the most devastating things that people living with dementia and their support people experience – making it harder to get the help and support they need and increasing their isolation.”

Action areas include a recommendation to

– “Improve understanding of dementia and ageing within Aotearoa New Zealand communities by promoting and supporting Alzheimers NZ’s Dementia Friendly Recognition Programme and the Office for Seniors’ WHO Age Friendly Cities Programme” and to

– “Design and implement a multi-level multi-channel campaign to raise awareness, increase understanding of dementia and tackle stigma and discrimination” with suggested lead organisations being health promotion agencies and sector NGOs.