The World Dementia Council (WDC) has published a Statement on the importance of care and support for those affected by dementia and their families. The Global Care and Support Statement (“Global Care Statement”), which has been created by WDC’s Care Global Team, states that everyone affected by dementia has a human right to receive the highest quality care and support possible; to be treated with dignity; and to be entitled to full and effective participation and inclusion in society.
The Global Care Statement sets out two Calls to Action, which are designed to help ensure these rights. These call for all of the world’s governments and governing bodies to adopt, implement, and ensure high-quality, person-centered care and support for people living with dementia; and for all health and social care systems to fund and provide access to high-quality, person-centered dementia care and support services.
It also includes eight important Principles of High-Quality Care and Support, including for individuals to receive a timely and accurate dementia diagnosis; for people living with dementia to be treated with dignity and respect; for communities to be inclusive of people living with dementia and encourage their engagement in the community; for dementia care to be person- and relationship-centered and based upon continuous assessment and individualised planning; and for people living with dementia and their care partners to be active participants in care planning and decision making.
Speaking at the launch of the Global Care Statement, WDC’s Chair, Dr. Yves Joanette says: “Improving dementia care and support remains a top priority for care providers and those affected by the disease, especially while no cure or disease-modifying therapy is available. That is why WDC’s Global Care Statement is so important in specifying what needs to be done to offer person-centered, high-quality care and support to everyone affected by what is undoubtedly the biggest health and care challenge facing the world today.”
WDC’s Care Global Team lead, Harry Johns adds: “WDC’s Global Care Statement sets out a range of clear, urgent priorities and calls to action, which we hope that governments, governing bodies, health and social care systems, care providers and communities will all adopt to ensure that those living with dementia and their families are given the highest quality care and support possible to meet their needs.”
The principles also express the need for medical and care professionals to be knowledgeable of all aspects of dementia and to work across disciplines to ensure a holistic approach to disease management; and for care coordination and collaboration to occur between all care providers, including in monitoring and evaluating the care and support provided.
