The National Dementia Strategy aims to support those affected by dementia and to implement measures to improve the individual’s quality of life. Patients and families should have access to high-quality care that meets their needs.
Field of action 1 “Health literacy, information and participation”: The behavioral changes in dementia can lead to a lack of understanding of the social environment. Targeted information about early signs of dementia should make it possible for help to be sought without delay. The awareness-raising measures benefit the sufferers by strengthening self-help measures. For relatives, the variety of support and counseling services must be known.
Field of action 2 “Demand-oriented services”: By means of the regional establishment of networked competence centers for diagnostics, flexible relief services for daytime and nighttime care, and the promotion of dementia-friendly care in acute hospitals and in long-term inpatient care, high-quality services along the entire care chain should be available to those affected. The compensation must be adequate and the broad offer thus financially viable.
Field of action 3 “Quality and professional competence”: The care of dementia patients must be guided by ethical principles. The quality of treatment is to be ensured by means of elaborated recommendations for early detection, diagnostics and therapy as well as by means of promotion of interdisciplinary cooperation and learned handling of crisis situations. The dementia-specific education, training and continuing education of professionals, but also the competence of relatives should be expanded.
Field of action 4 “Data and knowledge transfer”: Data on the Swiss care structure must be collected (establishment of a care monitoring system must be examined) and research approaches must be advanced. In addition, it is essential that the data and information be accessible to practitioners; events and web platforms can support this.
Source: Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH): National Dementia Strategy 2014-2017. November 2013, Bern. www. bag.admin.ch
HAUSARZT PRAXIS 2014; 9(1): 50
InFo Neurology & Psychiatry 2014; 12(2): 39.
