Policy

Research evidence, effectively disseminated, has the power to raise awareness and influence policy in progressive directions. Our research programme is now well underway. How exactly can our findings be used to advance the policy debate, and make the arguments for more and better services for people with dementia?

We aim to work closely with national, regional and international policymakers in the formulation of our research plans, and in the interpretation and dissemination of knowledge from the 10/66 studies.

At the same time we tremendously value the importance of improving awareness of dementia in the whole population. And we believe that clear and sound messages should be shaped and tailored around the audience. Our Chinese centre produced a movie telling the story of Professor Xiao and his family. A touching story about dementia and the distress it causes in the whole family.
Click here to watch the trailer of the Chinese movie.

We are determined to establish a good understanding of the wider political context. Hence, we will work with policymakers to prepare country profiles for each 10/66 centre, and baseline policy analyses according to a standard template. These would include:

• population demographic characteristics and trends
• estimated numbers of people with dementia, and trends
• any overarching government policies on ageing, healthcare for older people, long term care, and dementia
• the resources available for social and healthcare, including financing arrangements
• sources of income for older people; availability and type of pensions (including disability pensions and caregiver allowances)
• any pending policy initiatives

10/66 will work with ADI and HelpAge International to produce and disseminate two policy briefings annually highlighting key messages arising from the research. These will be circulated to all interested stakeholders (register here), and posted on this section of the site

• the prevalence, and numbers of people with, including future trends
• the economic cost of dementia and other NCDs, at the household and societal level
• the relative impact (on mortality, disability, dependency and needs for care) of dementia and other NCDs
• the adequacy of healthcare provision

We also aim to host three international policymaker forums, for national, regional and international policymakers, beginning in 2008, and continuing through the medium of ADI international and conferences (Singapore 2009, and Thessaloniki 2010). The aim will be to develop a network of engaged policymakers, to bring policymakers in contact with media and NGO advocates, to review learning from the 10/66 projects and consider policy implications, and to exchange information on new policy directions. Proceedings will be recorded and reports posted here.

We anticipate that the focus of our work with policymakers will include:

1. improving coverage, and access to healthcare
2. improving the quality, and age-appropriateness of healthcare for older people
3. encouraging national debates, policymaking and planning about arrangements for long term care
4. securing a reduction in the levels of income insecurity and increases in the levels of social protection for older people

Several international agreements, conventions and reports are relevant. Our studies can be used to monitor progress towards their implementation.

The Madrid International Plan for Action on Ageing (2002) http://social.un.org/index/Ageing/Resources/MadridInternationalPlanofActiononAgeing.aspx

The UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (2006) http://www.un.org/disabilities/

The World Health Organization - Improving the quality of health care for chronic conditions – WHOCC (2004) http://www.who.int/diabetesactiononline/about/icccreport/en/index.html

World Health Organization - Towards an International Consensus on Policy for Long-Term Care of the Ageing. (2000) http://www.milbank.org/000712oms.pdf