Building capacity for dementia care in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have limited facilities and professionals trained to diagnose, treat, and support people with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. The situation for people with dementia is poor, and worsening as the proportion of elderly in the general population is rapidly expanding. We reviewed existing initiatives and provided examples of actions taken to build capacity and improve the effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and national systems that provide treatment and support for people with dementia and their caregivers. Regional barriers to capacity building and the importance of public engagement are highlighted. Existing programs need to disseminate their objectives, accomplishments, limitations, and overall lessons learned in order to gain greater recognition of the need for capacity-building programs.

Health conditions and unmet needs for assistance to perform activities of daily living among older adults with dementia in Chile

“…Previous studies in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have indicated that the care needs of PWD are higher than those of older adults requiring care due to other medical conditions . Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, no published study has addressed unmet needs in PWD in LAC . Previous epidemiological studies in LAC reported a 7.1% prevalence of dementia among older adults, with high variability between countries, ranging from 2% in Brazil to 13% in Venezuela .…”

Dementia in Latin America

“…Unlike many HIC (e.g., United Kingdom, France, Norway, United States, and South Korea) where governments have developed specific dementia plans or strategies, most LAC have minimal mental health facilities with no specific policies or budgets for mental health. 15 Currently available treatments, research opportunities, and clinical assessment of dementia appears to depend on a country's political stability and economic capacity 16 , 30 – 32 (appendix e-1, S6, links.lww.com/WNL/A97 ).…”

The male familial caregiver experience of caring for persons with Alzheimer’s disease from low socio-economic status: A South African perspective

“…Stigmatization and elder abuse risk significantly increase when Alzheimer’s disease is poorly understood (Prorok, Horgon, & Seitz, 2013) hence, informational and accessible resources are critical (Gurayah, 2015). Health-care professionals and support organizations are vital in providing guidance and information about challenges and common symptoms that aid in caregiver coping (Gonzalez et al., 2015; Mintzer, Miriski, & Hoernig, 2000). Male caregivers, however, preferred limiting their knowledge on disease progression, which controlled their anxiety and enhanced their perceived coping ability (Pretorius et al., 2009).…”