A Public Consultation on a draft National Dementia Strategy was launched this morning by Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Dr Franco Mercieca.

Dr Mercieca said that the focus of the strategy is about raising awareness and understanding among healthcare professionals and the general public, with aim to help diagnose the symptons earlier.

Dementia is a general term used to describe those brain diseases that result in a progressive deterioration of brain function causing problems such as difficulties with memory, thinking, behaviour, speech and mood.

Eventually those affected by this condition are unable to care for themselves and need help. According to the report in Malta, the number of individuals with dementia in 2010 was estimated to be 5,198, equivalent to 1.24 per cent of the general population.

It said that this figure is projected to reach 3.62 per cent of the population by the year 2060. This will bring about a significant demand not only on the health and social care services but also on society as a whole as most of the care for individuals with dementia is provided by family members who act as main caregivers.

Parliamentary Secretariat for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing said that the National Dementia Strategy for public consultation sets out a work programme for the next nine years to enhance the quality of life of individuals with dementia, their caregivers and family members through the implementation of a number of objectives in different priority areas including awareness and understanding of dementia, timely diagnosis, workforce development, research and dementia management and care.

The Secretariat is inviting the general public and other interested parties to participate in the consultation process by sending their feedback to Dr. Franco Mercieca, Palazzo Ferreria, Republic Street, Valletta, Malta or via email to dementia.mfss@gov.mt by the end of May 2014.

A national conference for stakeholders and the general public will be help on the 22nd of March.

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