POLICY WATCH
The Netherlands launches its fourth national dementia strategy At the conclusion of 2020, the Netherlands launched its fourth national dementia strategy, setting out the commitments of the country to dementia policy for the next ten years (2021– 2030). In this article we look at some of the key highlights from the strategy and hear from Anne de Boer, Advocacy Officer, Alzheimer Nederland, who has shared the organisation’s views on the new strategy. On 21 September 2020, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports presented its National Dementia Strategy 2021–2030, the fourth such strategy published by the Government in the Netherlands. The strategy provides three overarching themes which structure the approach of the document: y A world without dementia (focused on research) y Persons with dementia matter (focused on dementia friendly societies) y Tailor-made support when living with dementia (focused on high quality and personal dementia care and support). Under each heading, further analysis and detail is included, identifying the key challenges which exist, as well as the goal and targets which the government aims to achieve. In the following article, we provide a high-level overview of the strategy. A world without dementia As with the previous strategy (the DeltaPlan Dementie), there is support for a dedicated research programme delivered by ZonMw (an independent research organisation in the Netherlands), which aims to provide greater synergies across the fields of dementia research. It is envisaged that this will provide focus across five areas of research: y y y y y
Basic research Diagnostics Risk reduction Promising technological developments Integrating research, care and education.
The goals set out under this theme are as follows: y By 2025, a tailor-made diagnosis will be available for every person with dementia as well as a treatment that focuses on the individual and their specific needs y By 2025, greater insight will have been obtained into the causes that are responsible for 60% of dementia cases (assuming that approximately 40% of dementia cases could have been prevented via lifestyle factors). Persons with dementia matter Under this heading, the strategy notes that with support and adjustments, persons with dementia can continue to live and participate in the societies in which they live for quite some time. However, it identifies that prejudices and stigma often result in assumptions that a person diagnosed with dementia has limited or no capacity. The strategy identifies two specific programmes to address these issues. The first will focus on encouraging people with dementia to take up meaningful activities and make use of meeting centres within their communities, whilst the second will build upon the previous Dementia Friendly Together programme, seeking to use it as a basis for a more structured training course for professionals in various sectors and for private individuals. For this theme, the strategy outlines the following targets:
Netherlands National Dementia Strategy – 2021–2030
y By 2030, 80% of persons living at home have access to a meeting centre for persons with dementia in the vicinity of their home, where they are able to participate in meaningful activities y By 2025, the number of “dementia friends” will have doubled to 750,000 persons, with a focus on young people, with dementia friends being able to offer help to persons in their neighbourhood. Tailor-made support when living with dementia The strategy notes that the quality of dementia care in the Netherlands is high, whilst acknowledging the potential for further improvement. As part of this, the recent completion of the revised dementia care standard is highlighted, with the strategy explaining that this must now be implemented on a national level. Furthermore, the government commits to continuing its work around the development of the register for dementia care and support, as well as working with regional dementia care networks to improve the availability of care and supports. Two goals are included within this section: Dementia in Europe 23
