World Alzheimer Report 2016

News Release

Dementia healthcare must adapt to tackle global dementia crisis

The report will be launched in London, and co-launched during the ADI African Regional Conference in Ibadan, Nigeria on World Alzheimer’s Day.

The full report is available at: www.alz.co.uk/worldreport2016

 

World Alzheimer Report 2016 calls for global transformation in healthcare for people with dementia

Most people with dementia have yet to receive a diagnosis, let alone treatment and care

  • Balancing tasks between primary and specialist care could increase capacity and reduce costs
  • Clear, evidence-based dementia care pathways should be established in all health systems, and monitored for progress towards universal coverage
  • Lack of research on the effectiveness of key components of dementia healthcare is striking, and should be considered an urgent priority

A new report from Alzheimer’s Disease International, authored by researchers at King’s College London and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), reveals that most people with dementia have yet to receive a diagnosis, let alone comprehensive and continuing healthcare.

The World Alzheimer Report 2016: Improving healthcare for people living with dementia, calls for concerted action to increase the coverage of healthcare for people with dementia worldwide.

Dementia affects 47 million people worldwide and this number will treble by 2050. Currently, only around half of those in high income countries, and one in ten or less in low and middle income countries have received a diagnosis. Expanding coverage of services for increasing numbers of people with dementia can only be achieved – and a crisis averted – by boosting capacity, and the efficiency with which care is delivered.

The report highlights that dementia care being provided mainly by specialist doctors is a key barrier to progress. Greater involvement of non-specialist primary care staff can unlock capacity to meet increasing demand for dementia care, and could make the cost of care per person up to 40% cheaper. Primary care services will need to be strengthened and supported to take on this role, through specialists providing guidance and support. Affordability of new treatments is critical to ensuring equity and social justice for the two-thirds of people with dementia living in low-resourced countries.

Clear ‘care pathways’ would define roles and responsibilities within the care system, and establish standards to be monitored and met. Care pathways, a structured and organised approach to the coordination, resourcing and delivery of continuing care, are now a common component of chronic disease care for other conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and cancer care. Case management supports coordination and integration of care, and can help ensure that services are both person-centred and efficient.

Increased coverage of comprehensive healthcare services is affordable, amounting to approximately 0.5% of total healthcare expenditure by 2030. However, political will is required to establish the necessary changes.

The report calls for a radical change in the way healthcare is delivered to people living with dementia, with a rebalancing toward non-specialist primary care, and planned and coordinated inputs from all levels of the health and social care sectors. It emphasises that care must be holistic, continuous and integrated, with a focus on quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers, and explicit monitoring of processes and outcomes.

More research is needed into; the cost-effectiveness of case management; the potential for unnecessary hospital admissions to be averted or abbreviated, and the outcomes of hospital admission to be improved; the benefits and harms of advanced care planning, and a palliative care approach; and trials to establish which elements of care can be safely transferred to non-specialist services.

Glenn Rees, Chair of ADI, said, “The goal of both improving rates of diagnosis and making the global health system more efficient was critically important to the report, including a clear recommendation that we monitor the outcomes of dementia care so that people with dementia and their care partners can be better informed about the quality of care available.”

Professor Martin Prince, lead author, from King’s College London, said: “This landmark report highlights the need to redesign and repurpose dementia care services for the challenges of the 21st Century. We have just 10-15 years to get this right, planning and implementing a realistic and robust platform for delivering dementia healthcare for all, in advance of any new and more effective treatments becoming available.”

The report is released ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day, the focal point of the global World Alzheimer’s Month campaign led by Alzheimer associations around the world to increase awareness of dementia. The report includes an analysis of existing care models in Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and Switzerland. A ‘Zero Draft’ Global Action Plan on Dementia is currently being developed by the World Health Organisation in response to advocacy by ADI and others to address the growing issue of dementia globally.

The World Alzheimer Report 2016 was researched and written by the Global Observatory for Ageing and Dementia Care at King’s College London in collaboration with the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE).

Awareness and Sensitization

As part of our awareness strategy, AlzGH team participated regularly on Radio and Television programmes to create awareness and sensitize the public on dementia, using live-broadcast and phone-in to reach out to the public. AlzGH team was hosted on Viasat1 TV and TV3 separately to educate and sensitize the entire public. Discussions were centered on the signs and symptoms of dementia and other related disorders, their diagnosis, the role of government and the civil society in combating and managing it in Ghana.

At Viasat1 TV

At TV3

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Picture of AlzGH team hosted at TV3 on 16th March 2015

Alzheimer’s Ghana in a research collaboration with mental health experts

Research and Education
Due to lack of research and information on dementia in Ghana, Alzheimer`s Ghana team has been working to bring together students and researchers in the area of Mental Health to undertake basic research on dementia.

A meeting with research a student from College of Nursing, Sweden on 10th April 2015
Alzheimer`s Ghana had a series of meetings during this period ranging from Board Meetings on 4th and 11th May, Lunch and Dinner with the Board and other professionals in the field and also working hard to plan our forthcoming Anniversary Conference and Alzheimer`s Day in September 2015.

Alzheimers Ghana on an advocacy mission at the ministry

Advocacy
2nd March 2015, Our advocacy team held a discussion with the Deputy Minister for Health and a separate discussion with the Director General of Ghana Health Service to brief them on the activities of Alzheimer`s Ghana. The Deputy Minister in turn, reiterated government`s commitment to helping people who are affected with this disease and their families. We also presented a letter to him to invite him to the summit organized by WHO namely the 1st Global Ministerial Conference on Dementia in Geneva, Switzerland.

AlzGH team after a meeting with Deputy Minister for Health and the Director of Nursing.

Advocacy

2nd March 2015, Our advocacy team held a discussion with the Deputy Minister for Health and a separate discussion with the Director General of Ghana Health Service to brief them on the activities of Alzheimer`s Ghana. The Deputy Minister in turn, reiterated government`s commitment to helping people who are affected with this disease and their families. We also presented a letter to him to invite him to the summit organized by WHO namely the 1st Global Ministerial Conference on Dementia in Geneva, Switzerland.

The IOM Conference in Ghana

27th and 28th April 2015, our team participated in a Workshop organized by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), USA to strategize for provision of a Sustainable Mental Health Care in Ghana. The workshop was used to strengthen collaborations with both local and international partners in Mental Health delivery and also with the Government Agencies.

At IOM Workshop

Research and Education

Due to lack of research and information on dementia in Ghana, Alzheimer`s Ghana team has been working to bring together students and researches in the area of Mental Health to undertake basic research on dementia.

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A meeting with research a student from College of Nursing, Sweden on 10th April 2015

Alzheimer`s Ghana had a series of meetings during this period ranging from Board Meetings on 4th and 11th May, Lunch and Dinner with the Board and other professionals in the field and also working hard to plan our forthcoming Anniversary Conference and Alzheimer`s Day in September 2015.

Updates of the World Alzheimer`s Month Activities

Updates of the World Alzheimer`s Month Activities

Here is a short report on the activities during the just ended World Alzheimer`s Month.On the Tuesday the 2nd of September Alzheimer`s Ghana launched the Months celebration at the Nabita Nursing Training College in Tema.

  • Thursday the 4th of September, our team was hosted on Dementia Awareness and Education programme on Hot FM/Radio Station at Accra. The programme lasted for about 20mins and attracted over 15million listeners both in the cities and villages.
  • Wednesday the 10th of September, our team also organised Dementia Awareness and Education programme at Citi FM/Radio Station at Accra the and this programme attracted over 20million audience.
  • Sunday the 14th of September, our team undertook Dementia Awareness and Education programme and Research Questionnaires at Royal House Chapel at Afienya town in the Ningo Prampram District Assembly. About 100 congregations was educated.
  • Tuesday the 16th of September, our team again undertook Dementia Awareness and Education programme and Research Questionnaires at Royal House Chapel at Afienya town in the Ningo Prampram District Assembly.
  • Wednesday 17th of September, our team conducted Dementia Awareness and Research Questionnaires at the Morbole Local Community in the Ningo Prampram District of Ghana.
  • Friday the 19th of September, our team were at Ashaiman Senior High School for education on Dementia Awareness and Research Questionnaires. Over 200 students between the ages of 16-25yrs at Ashaiman in the Tema Metropolital Assembly participated in the activity.
  • Sunday the 21st of September, our team visited Afienya Roman Catholic Church and did a presentation on Dementia and World Alzheimer`s Day. Over 250 people participated.
  • Monday the 15th of September, our team did a presentation on Dementia and reducing its Risks at the Rotary Club, Accra. Over 50 people were present.
  • Thursday the 25th of September, our team visited the Minister for Health and Nungua Traditional Council to invite the Minister, the chiefs and elders to the conference.
  • Tuesday the 30th September between 6am – 7am, our team was hosted by Ghana Television Corporation (GTV) on Breakfast show. We used this occasion to educate the public of over 25million on the topic Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?

 

 

Tuesday 30th September between 10:30am – 1:30pm

Alzheimer`s Ghana climaxed the month`s programmes with a Conference involving Government officials, WHO representative, Traditional Leaders, Security personnel from Ghana Armed Forces, Health Professionals from Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Services, Nursing/Medical Students, other NGOs, representatives from various media groups and other stakeholders. Below is the programme line-up.

Theme- Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?

Conference: Tuesday, 30th September 2014   10.30am – 1.30pm
Venue: Christ The King Catholic Church Conference Hall

Aims

  • to highlight the plight of people with dementia and their families in Ghana’s ageing population
  • to look at how to reduce the risk of dementia in Ghana by involving stakeholders and the general public
  • to launch an appeal for support for the organisation and people affected

Chairman: Professor Joseph Bediako Asare, (Chairman, Mental Health Board)

King Odaifio Welentsi III, Chief of Nungua Traditional Area.


Conference Pictures

World Alzheimer’s Day

World Alzheimer’s Day

September 21st of each year, is a year, is a day on which Alzheimer ‘s  organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia.

How Can World Alzheimer’s Day Help

Awareness about this degenerative and irreversible disorder is very important to understand and care for the patients affected with Alzheimer’s. The world Alzheimer’s Day focuses on getting more people know about the disease and why and how the patients could be managed though the disease itself cannot be cured.

The first people who should be educated on the symptoms and management of the disease are those who have someone suffering from it. In most of the cases the early Alzheimer’s symptoms are mistaken for age related forgetfulness and the disease is diagnosed only after it advances to a higher stage making it equally difficult for the patients and for the caregivers.

Being patient and knowing the symptoms and the extent to which the disease can progress will help in taking care of the patient and bearing with the pain of seeing their loved ones deteriorate into living log. The international Alzheimer’s  day tells the people that, they are not alone in their misery and someone next to them are facing the same or similar trauma; the talk show and the articles on the disease helps in educating the world to know more about the disease. The day also promotes the donation into the fund for Alzheimer’s research which may someday provide a breakthrough for the treatment and new findings in to key to unlock the disease.

Alzheimer`s Ghana joined Mrs Adih, President of the Board in Celebrating her Mum`s 80th Birthday

Alzheimer`s Ghana joined Mrs Adih, President of the Board in Celebrating her Mum`s 80th Birthday

Alzheimer`s Ghana joined Mrs Adih, President of the Board in Celebrating her Mum`s 80th Birthday on 17th May.

We used this occasion to interact with Nana Oye Lithur, Ministers for Gender Children and Social Protection and Mrs Qweenstar Pokuah Sawyerr, Deputy Minister for Central Region, who were present and also engaged some prominent men who were also present to support and donate towards Alzheimer`s Ghana activities.