ABSTRACT
We have come a long way in the past decade. From obscurity in terms of policies, dementia is now almost universally acknowledged as one of the most common and serious disorders faced by the human population. It is the most feared illness in older people and the most expensive common condition. One-third of people aged over 65 live and die with dementia (Brayne et al., 2006). e need for action to improve care for people with dementia has been acknowledged by international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO, 2012) and the G8 dementia summit (Department of Health [DH], 2013). e ‘diagnosis gap’ in dementia where less than a half of those with dementia ever attract a diagnosis of dementia, is a global phenomenon (Alzheimer’s Disease International [ADI], 2012). Dementia is a challenge at international, national, regional and local levels as well as at the personal level.
