The Malta national dementia strategy : the start of its implementation and to where is it heading to?

Abstract

Malta is the sixteenth country that is introducing its National Dementia Strategy. On February 2014 we have seen the launching of the Maltese National Dementia Strategy - Public Consultation Document to be implemented from year 2015 till 2023. A nine year plan that the Government of the day has decided to implement after that a Draft regarding a national dementia strategy was set up in May 2009 but was left on the shelf. Dr Charles Scerri was appointed as the Maltese Focal Point on Dementia and he is also the author of the National Dementia Strategy - Public Consultation Document 2015-2023. The strategy implies the need for a joint effort from different government entities, nongovernmental organisations, health and social care professionals and staff, dementia sufferers, their families, caregivers with the principal aim of improving the quality of life of those people that are diagnosed with dementia. Moreover, financial investment for research, promoting ethical approach, increase in awareness and understanding dementia illness and a number holistic measures to offer the best possible advice to stakeholders in the arena of dementia management and care. After reviewing relevant Dementia Strategies of different countries that already adopt one, being more knowledgeable on dementia illness and its burden, and analysing the qualitative data acquired from interviews with different stakeholders in the Maltese public and private sector, this study looks into some of the different objectives and principles that are mentioned in the National Dementia Strategy -Public Consultation Document. As the number of dementia sufferers is increasing so are the human, social and economic costs associated to it.