Dementia strategy – Living well with dementia

Demenzstrategie – Gut leben mit Demenz

The Austrian Dementia Strategy aims to establish a system that promotes participation, autonomy, and high-quality care for individuals affected by dementia and their families. It seeks to provide timely information, ensure accessibility to support services, and involve individuals in care decisions. The strategy also focuses on enhancing the education and training of professionals in the field. The strategy was developed by the Austrian National Public Health Institute (Gesundheit Österreich GmbH, GÖG), with input from various experts and stakeholders, including persons with dementia and political decision-makers. It is coordinated by GÖG on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. The strategy targets people with dementia, their families and friends, healthcare and social services personnel, researchers, educators, funding bodies, ethics commissions, government authorities, media, and the general public. It covers a wide range of stakeholders to ensure comprehensive support for individuals affected by dementia. The strategy outlines seven objectives and 21 recommendations, including promoting participation and self-determination, extending information provision, enhancing knowledge and competence, creating coordinated care frameworks, adapting care structures, expanding low-threshold contact points, and ensuring quality improvement through research. Key actions include developing information concepts, public relations campaigns, training for medical and non-medical staff, and establishing a Dementia Strategy Platform. From 2016 to 2023, around 130 actions were implemented, contributing to health promotion, dementia prevention, and care improvements. A federal working group of people with dementia was established to help design services and reduce stigmatization. Conferences and newsletters have engaged over 750 stakeholders and around 250 recipients, respectively, fostering ongoing collaboration and development of evidence-based measures.