World Health Organization has adopted the global plan on dementia on 29 May 2017. It calls on the governments to develop their national dementia policy actively.

Taipei, 29 May 2017 - Te-Jen Lai, president of Taiwan Alzheimer’s Disease Association(TADA), said : “Taiwan has issued the Taiwan Dementia Policy in August 2013. The adoption of the global action plan is beneficial for Taiwan to renew dementia policy. Taiwan government should take into consideration the WHO global action plan on dementia, the needs of people living with dementia(PWD) and their carers, and involve PWD, their families, and professionals in forming of our national dementia policy. Moreover, a mandatory implementation of the policy plan is crucial.  This might include the involvement of the Executive Yuan to be responsible for facilitating effective implementation.”

Every 3 seconds, someone in the world develops dementia, and 131.5 million people will be living with dementia by 2050. Moreover, the global cost of dementia will reach a trillion dollars by 2018, indicating that dementia care has an enormous economic impact.

In the 2013 national survey of dementia prevalence in Taiwan, the prevalence of dementia among individuals older than 65 was 8%. By estimation, more than two hundred and sixty thousand people were living with dementia in 2016. This number will rise to about eight hundred and fifty thousand by 2061.

In dealing with the surge in dementia, the Taiwan government issued the national dementia policy in August 2013. It became the thirteenth country who has a national dementia policy in the world. Furthermore, the Taiwan government announced the 2014-2016 action plan on dementia in September 2014.

In order to meet the local needs and consistent with the international trends, TADA urged government to adopt the WHO global action plan on dementia, the opinions of people living with dementia and their families into the second edition of the Taiwan Dementia Policy.

President Te-Jen Lai thanks ADI for their efforts contrbution in advocacy for people with dementia and their carers. It is our honor to be a full member of ADI.