The travails of dementia policy development in a small island state : perspectives from Malta

Abstract

Malta, the smallest country in the European Union, is experiencing a demographic transition where the share of individuals aged 65-plus currently makes up 16.3% of the total population. This figure is projected to reach 31.2% by 2060. While the opportunity to grow older indicates social success, it creates important challenges at both the personal and political economy levels. As a result of this increase in the number of older persons, age-related neurodegenerative disorders, including the most common forms of dementia, are expected to rise proportionately. This will pose significant societal demands as most dementia care is provided informally by family members living in the community. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that there is considerable lack of awareness and professional training that is seriously undermining timely diagnosis and management. As a result, Malta opted to take a holistic approach towards dementia care by recently launching a long-term strategy focusing on increasing awareness, providing the best services leading to high quality dementia care, and fostering dementia training to healthcare professionals in order to be better equipped to support individuals with dementia. It is a vision that promotes excellence, and effectively reflects the current and future needs of these individuals, their relatives and caregivers.