Trends and Implications of Global Dementia-Friendly Community Policies: Focused on Integrating Age- and Dementia-Friendly Community Models

Abstract

This article aims to describe the global trends in dementia-friendly community movements, including the World Health Organization’s dementia-friendly initiatives and the Dementia Friendly America (DFA) network in the U.S. The goal of the WHO dementia- friendly communities is to enhance the inclusion of all individuals in society, regardless of age, (cognitive) disability, and other individual characteristics, which is very similar to the goal of age-friendly communities. The concept of age-friendly communities has long been developed and implemented across many local communities around the globe. Thus, the efforts to create dementia-friendly communities should be integrated and coordinated in conjunction with the policies and actions to foster age-friendly communities. In addition, efforts to scale up an existing dementia-friendly initiative are necessary with the active participation of and support from people with dementia and their families.