Preamble
Whereas, the Alzheimer’s
and Related Disorders Society of India(ARDSI), is a national organization
dedicated to the care, support and research of dementia in the country and is a
full member of the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), which seeks to
improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their caregivers and
particularly to raise awareness about the disease.
We make this Declaration
to increase awareness of the rapidly increasing prevalence of dementia in India,
to support the rights of persons with dementia and their family members and
caregivers, and to call for action. For the purpose of this Document, dementia
is defined as a chronic, progressive and terminal disorder involving
deterioration in multiple areas of cognitive functioning, and one often
associated with behavioural, psychological and functional impairment;
We note the number of
persons over the age of 60 years and older who suffer from dementia in India is an estimated 3.7 million in the year 2010,
with 2.1 million women and 1.5 million men affected by it.[1]
We observe and stress, the
devastating and debilitating impact of dementia on the individuals suffering
from it, the families and caregivers of these individuals and society in
general, robbing the afflicted persons primarily of their Dignity and Self-
Respect, of their memory, cognitive functioning, their ability to carry out
their daily chores and participate in community life, burdening families and
society with the intense costs, both direct and indirect, of health and social care related to dementia;
We observe with concern that
the healthcare needs of persons afflicted by dementia are not recognized
separately from the other mental health care needs of older persons, that these
are not accorded the priority in government planning and programmes, and that
India does not have a separate national policy on dementia and neither a
national strategy on the same;
We acknowledge the declaration
adopted by the International Longevity Centers- Global Alliance (ILC-GA)
partners at Cape Town in 2010 and the foresight of the governments that have
implemented the National Plans for Alzheimer’s Related Disorders or the
National Strategy for Dementia.
We
affirm the human rights of all persons, within the
context of this document, emphasise the human rights of the older persons with
disabilities. We recall the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights which recognizes the right to ‘the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental health.’ We also recall the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which obligates State
Parties to implement measures to promote and protect the rights of persons with
disabilities including dementia;
We also note that the
Planning Commission as well as the revised National Policy on Older Persons of
India have taken cognizance of the issue of Dementia and have suggested
concrete measures to address the issues and concerns of people affected by
dementia;
We invite all the
stakeholders of the cause of population ageing at the state and national levels
to support and adopt this Pune Declaration on Dementia and strengthen
cooperation in addressing dementia and its impact.
Now, therefore, the Alzheimer’s
and Related Disorders Society of India
Proclaims this Pune Declaration on “Dementia- the need for a
national strategy of India” to be a call for action from all levels of
government, and for civil society, academia, communities and individuals to
promote and protect the rights of persons with dementia as well as the rights
of their family members and caregivers, by:
1. Engaging
in a multidisciplinary dialogue to establish a common framework of standards
for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dementia;
2. Urging
the government to develop and implement national integrated policies and plans
of action dedicated to dementia, including a national strategy on dementia, as
well as comprehensive policies and plans of action on ageing which incorporate
dementia;
3. Urging
increased funding by governmental and non governmental sources of research on
all aspects of dementia and associated caregiving;
4. Requesting
and urging pharmaceutical companies to supply affordable dementia medications;
5. Urging
the government to support the provisions for the training of healthcare professionals
in geriatrics in general, and in dementia in particular and also to enhance the
dementia screening and diagnostic skills;
6. Supporting
efforts of governmental and nongovernmental bodies to create awareness on
healthy ageing, and measures to prevent or delay the onset of dementia;
7. Urging
the media to enhance qualitative advocacy of the cause of population ageing in
general, and of dementia, in particular;
8. Supporting
the efforts of governmental and nongovernmental organizations to reduce the
discrimination and isolation of people affected by dementia.
9. Providing
support, including training and respite care services, to informal caregivers
of older persons with dementia.
ARDSI
National and all State Chapters
Chaitanya
Mental Health Care Centre, Pune
International
Longevity Centre-India (ILC-I)
27th
November 2011
