Dementia as a Disability and Human Rights Issue

Area of Science:

• Public Health Policy
• Gerontology
• Human Rights Law

Background:

• Canada urgently needs a community-based dementia care strategy.
• Existing strategies focus on care within the current health system.
• There's a need for transformative, systemic change in dementia care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reframe dementia care through the lenses of disability and human rights.
• To analyze existing dementia care strategy pillars using a human rights framework.
• To advocate for a shift from 'care' to 'enablement' and social change in dementia support.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis applying disability and human rights frameworks.
• Critical reflection on existing community-based dementia care strategies.
• Examination of policy and funding mechanisms for early intervention.

Main Results:

• A human rights approach is essential for addressing dementia-related vulnerability.
• Existing strategic pillars for dementia care can be strengthened by this new lens.
• Shifting focus to enablement and social change promotes individual and system resilience.

Conclusions:

• Dementia is a significant social and human rights issue, not solely a health concern.
• A human rights-based strategy is critical for transformative change in dementia care.
• Embracing enablement and social change fosters empowerment for people with dementia and caregivers.