Advancing Dementia Strategy in Lithuania

Abstract

Lithuania is one of few countries in the European Union without a national dementia strategy, even though the WHO has encouraged member states to develop one by 2025. A dementia strategy is a way to plan a public health response to dementia with the goal of dementia prevention, as well as care and support for people with dementia and their carers to ensure that they fulfil their potential and live well, with dignity, respect, autonomy and equality. The project “Towards a Dementia Strategy: Situation Analysis and Public Awareness”, implemented from2021-2023 and supported by the EEA Grants 2014-2021 through the Active Citizens Fund. aims to advance the development of a national dementia strategy by implementing the objectives outlined in the “Towards a Dementia Plan: a WHO Guide“: • To undertake a situation analysis. • To create recommendations for the development of a dementia strategy. • To raise awareness about dementia in Lithuania. The results of the project are contributing to the well-being of people living with dementia, their carers and family members, supporting dementia strategy development in Lithuania, and empowering civil society organizations to be actively involved in dementia awareness and friendliness development across sectors. To ensure the sustainability of the project results in the long term, in the beginning of 2021, the partners of the project has founded association “Dementia Lithuania”. The association is taking the lead as nationally and representing the people living with dementia and their carers in Lithuania in the internationally