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DESK REVIEWS | 04.08.04.03. Are there any policy changes expected, perhaps in relation to long-term care or social protection, which may result in increased availability of care, treatment, and support?

DESK REVIEW | 04.08.04.03. Are there any policy changes expected, perhaps in relation to long-term care or social protection, which may result in increased availability of care, treatment, and support?

We are living a complex political time. It is hard to say what is going to happen in the near future. The 2019 pension reform is estimated to save R$800 billion over the next ten years. However, the socioeconomic consequences and the impact on welfare through this reform are yet to be understood. Besides, the Covid-19 pandemic has raised different priorities in terms of healthcare systems in Brazil and the consequences on the population are still difficult to estimate, as the pandemic is still in place.

Not applicable for questions from 04.08.04.01 to 04.08.04.03, as there is no clear information or specific evidence could be found at the time of this desk review (March 2020).

The PIOJ (2014) points to government’s on-going revision of the universal, free healthcare policy as well as consideration of a social pensions policy. If there are changes to either of these, dementia care, treatment and support may well be impacted.

References:

Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). (2014). Jamaica Social Protection Strategy. Available from: https://www.pioj.gov.jm/product/jamaica-social-protection-strategy/

The following strategies described in earlier sections are likely to contribute to increase in access to care for persons dementia and/or increase in treatment guidelines on dementia care:

  1. Increase in the number of households receiving older persons and persons with severe disability cash transfers
  2. 66% (31 out of 47 counties) coverage of hospital based palliative care services
  3. The Constitution of Kenya 2010, Article 57, mandates the state to take steps to make sure that the rights of the elderly are protected government and private partnerships
  4. Involvement of NGOs with the Ministry of Health in task-sharing approaches and development of training manuals for community health volunteers
  5. Involvement of different partners with the Ministry of Health in policy and plans development e.g., national dementia plan by AMHRTF and ADOK; and healthy ageing strategy by HelpAge International
  6. Commitment of the government in supporting community health initiatives

As previously mentioned, there are two groups working together towards the generation of a National Care System, one led by the National Institute for Women (INMUJERES) and a second one at health system level lead by the General Health Council, CSG (Consejo de Salubridad General) at the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Geriatrics (INGER). As people with care dependency will be included as a target group, this could be a viable way to include people with dementia who have care needs as a specific target group. In addition, the inclusion of care-specific priorities in the six-year plans of three federal government institutions, opens the door to the establishment of the National Care System and long-term care policies.

There are no expected policy changes related to dementia with the NZ dementia Framework still viewed as fit for purpose as a guiding document for the assessment, management, and ongoing support of people with dementia and their family/whanau.