Policy

ADI works to ensure that dementia is a global health priority by driving international policy efforts and supporting the national advocacy of member associations to get action from governments.

ADI works to ensure that dementia is a global health priority by driving international policy efforts and supporting the national advocacy of member associations to get action from governments. We have been in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1996. ADI regularly delivers statements at WHO meetings.

Following over 10 years of advocacy, in May 2017 the WHO adopted the ‘Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025‘ . The Global plan contains seven action areas, the first of which is ‘Dementia as a public health priority’. ADI is producing the ‘From Plan to Impact‘ annual series of reports, monitoring the progress towards the plan’s targets. The latest report calls for urgent action to develop, fund and monitor national dementia plans.

ADI also stays in touch with the UN, OECD, World Economic Forum, G7 and G20 (the governmental groups of, respectively, seven and twenty major economies) and other international and inter-regional bodies to develop policies that can be implemented in every country of the world.

At national level, we work to build capacity by providing training and support, as well as opportunities for international collaboration, to our member Alzheimer associations. This enables them to work towards national plans, with sufficient funding, in their countries. We also work with members to monitor the human rights of people with dementia within the implementation of the UN Convention for the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) and other international treaties.

Our reports, including the World Alzheimer Report, provide the evidence to drive good policy. Each report contains recommendations for policy and practice.

We want health and care systems to respond better to dementia. This should include:

  • Timely diagnosis;
  • Post-diagnostic support;
  • Access to person-centred dementia services in community care and respite
    services, residential care, acute care and palliative care;
  • Capacity to provide care and support for care partners;
  • Dementia friendly communities;
  • Promotion of risk reduction measures;
  • Use of innovation, technology and workforce training

Read related content

WHO Global Action Plan on dementia

The global plan aims to improve the lives of people with dementia, their families and the people who care for them, while decreasing the impact of dementia on communities and countries. Read More

World Alzheimer Reports

The World Alzheimer Reports are a comprehensive source of global socioeconomic information on dementia. Each World Alzheimer Report is on a different topic, so the previous reports remain important sources of information with global relevance. Read More

What we do

Find out about ADI's activities, and what we do to achieve our objectives. Read More