An Economic Perspective of Dementia Care in Ireland

TY - BOOK

T1 - An Economic Perspective of Dementia Care in Ireland

AU - Trepel, Dominic

N1 - Prepared in advance of Pre-Budget Submission for the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland, 2010

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Dementia is a major health issue and a global condition. Increasing prevalence, costs and burden of disease assert significant pressure on economic and social systems in many countries. Globally costs for people with dementia amount to more than 1% of gross domestic product (GDP). Concurrently, the World Health Organisation observes a growing gap between budget allocation and the associated burden of mental health disorders, particularly in higher income countries. Point in care, the economic burden of dementia ranks higher than stroke, heart disease and cancer combined, however health care allocations for dementia continue to be substantially lower than each of these individual disease groups. Given the multiple agents who are involved in dementia care, ascertaining expenditure has inherent difficulties. A common indicator is investment on long term care, which is the composite of institutional and community based home care. Figure 1 compares spend (as a percentage of GDP) on long term care for both public and private sectors. In terms of percentage of GDP, Ireland spends approximately half the OECD average. More importantly, UK, Canada and Australia where dementia specific strategies have been implemented shows show sizable differences. Ireland is predicted to have the largest growth in the older population of all European countries in the coming decades[5]. In real terms, the population is predicted to increase threefold and with this so will the demand for dementia specific services. Given the prognosis of dementia combined with predicted economic impacts, the WHO indicate that the key priority for dementia is targeted interventions towards the carer.

AB - Dementia is a major health issue and a global condition. Increasing prevalence, costs and burden of disease assert significant pressure on economic and social systems in many countries. Globally costs for people with dementia amount to more than 1% of gross domestic product (GDP). Concurrently, the World Health Organisation observes a growing gap between budget allocation and the associated burden of mental health disorders, particularly in higher income countries. Point in care, the economic burden of dementia ranks higher than stroke, heart disease and cancer combined, however health care allocations for dementia continue to be substantially lower than each of these individual disease groups. Given the multiple agents who are involved in dementia care, ascertaining expenditure has inherent difficulties. A common indicator is investment on long term care, which is the composite of institutional and community based home care. Figure 1 compares spend (as a percentage of GDP) on long term care for both public and private sectors. In terms of percentage of GDP, Ireland spends approximately half the OECD average. More importantly, UK, Canada and Australia where dementia specific strategies have been implemented shows show sizable differences. Ireland is predicted to have the largest growth in the older population of all European countries in the coming decades[5]. In real terms, the population is predicted to increase threefold and with this so will the demand for dementia specific services. Given the prognosis of dementia combined with predicted economic impacts, the WHO indicate that the key priority for dementia is targeted interventions towards the carer.

KW - CARERS

KW - DEMENTIA

KW - ECONOMIC EVALUATION

KW - HEALTH SERVICES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

M3 - Other report

BT - An Economic Perspective of Dementia Care in Ireland

PB - Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

ER -