Comparing National Dementia Plans and Strategies in Europe - Is There a Focus of Care for People with Dementia from a Migration Background?

Abstract

Background: People with migration background (PwM) and dementia are a vulnerable group. Providing care for this group is a public health challenge in Europe. An increasing number of countries are issuing national dementia plans (NDPs), but a systematic overview of NDPs of European countries focusing on care for PwM is lacking. This study aims to illustrate how European countries identify the dementia-related needs of PwM and whether there are specific care services for them at the national level. Methods: A qualitative analysis of NDPs of the EU and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries was carried out. Using the discourse analysis model according to Rainer Keller (2011), documents were systematically screened for their relation to migration via keyword and context analysis. The content of the migration-related sections was analysed using the methods of paraphrasing, memos, comments and open coding. Findings: Twenty-three of the 35 EU and ETFA countries have a national dementia plan (NDP), ten refer to migration and one (Austria) has a NDP with a chapter on migration. Eight NDPs identify the specific needs of PwM with dementia, and actions to care for them are planned in nine countries. However, only Norway, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands have specific healthcare services for PwM. Interpretation: The topic of migration plays a subordinate role in the NDPs of European countries. The current lack of migrant-specific healthcare services in almost all European countries may lead to denying the right to equal care to a growing population. Funding Statement:Robert Bosch Stiftung. Declaration of Interests: All authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Not required.