National Memory Programme 2012–2020 : Creating a "memory-friendly" Finland
sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö
2013
Julkaisusarja:
Reports and Memorandums of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2013:9This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-00-3286-9Tiivistelmä
The European Parliament adopted a written declaration in 2008 which highlighted the increasing importance of memory disorders from the perspective of public health and the national economy and the need for national dementia strategies as one means of preparedness. Finland's national programme was produced by a committee set up by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
More than 13,000 people in Finland are diagnosed with a dementing disease every year. Such memory disorders do not only affect the elderly; estimates of the number of people among the working-age population who suffer from progressive memory disorders vary between 5,000 and 7,000. Individuals with progressive memory disorders need and rely heavily on social welfare and health care services; for example, three out of four patients receiving 24-hour care have a memory disorder. In order for us to be able to meet the increasing demand for services, we need action a) to promote brain health, b) to prevent memory disorders, c) to detect memory problems as early as possible and d) to develop a system that ensures that treatment, rehabilitation and support are provided systematically and at the right time and that allows monitoring and follow-up - in other words, an effective and seamless clinical pathway for people affected. The objective that the committee chose for the programme was to build solidarity to create a "memory-friendly" Finland on the basis of four pillars:
1. Promoting brain health
2. Fostering a more open attitude towards brain health, treatment of dementing disease and rehabilitation
3. Ensuring a good quality of life for people with dementia and their families through timely support, treatment, rehabilitation and services
4. Increasing research and education
The programme ties in with the objectives of Finland's social welfare and health care policies and existing care guidelines and quality control recommendations, and its implementation will be coordinated with ongoing legislative initiatives and other programmes such as Finland's National Development Programme for Social Welfare and Health Care (Kaste).
More than 13,000 people in Finland are diagnosed with a dementing disease every year. Such memory disorders do not only affect the elderly; estimates of the number of people among the working-age population who suffer from progressive memory disorders vary between 5,000 and 7,000. Individuals with progressive memory disorders need and rely heavily on social welfare and health care services; for example, three out of four patients receiving 24-hour care have a memory disorder. In order for us to be able to meet the increasing demand for services, we need action a) to promote brain health, b) to prevent memory disorders, c) to detect memory problems as early as possible and d) to develop a system that ensures that treatment, rehabilitation and support are provided systematically and at the right time and that allows monitoring and follow-up - in other words, an effective and seamless clinical pathway for people affected. The objective that the committee chose for the programme was to build solidarity to create a "memory-friendly" Finland on the basis of four pillars:
1. Promoting brain health
2. Fostering a more open attitude towards brain health, treatment of dementing disease and rehabilitation
3. Ensuring a good quality of life for people with dementia and their families through timely support, treatment, rehabilitation and services
4. Increasing research and education
The programme ties in with the objectives of Finland's social welfare and health care policies and existing care guidelines and quality control recommendations, and its implementation will be coordinated with ongoing legislative initiatives and other programmes such as Finland's National Development Programme for Social Welfare and Health Care (Kaste).