Projects to support people with dementia, Shanghai, China
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World Health Organization
Abstract
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6 p.
Rapid population ageing in China is placing increasing pressure on health systems, social services and families, particularly in the provision of care for people living with dementia. This “Lessons from the field” article describes the implementation and scale-up of dementia-friendly community projects in Shanghai, a publicly funded, community-based model aligned with the WHO Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025, designed to enhance support for older adults with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. The article outlines the design and governance of the initiative launched in 2019, which integrates nonpharmacological, psychosocial interventions such as cognitive training, social engagement and culturally adapted activities delivered through local agencies. It reviews implementation processes, including funding mechanisms, evaluation frameworks and partnerships, as well as participant feedback collected across multiple projects. By 2023, the initiative had expanded citywide, with high levels of reported satisfaction and perceived usefulness among participants, while identifying variability in implementation quality and limitations in evaluation practices. The analysis highlights key lessons, including the importance of culturally relevant, person-centred approaches, the role of sustained public financing and the need for stronger collaboration with academic institutions to support evidence-based practice. Intended for policy-makers and public health practitioners, it underscores the value of standardized protocols and robust evaluation systems to ensure quality, scalability and sustainability of community-based dementia care.
112
117
Rapid population ageing in China is placing increasing pressure on health systems, social services and families, particularly in the provision of care for people living with dementia. This “Lessons from the field” article describes the implementation and scale-up of dementia-friendly community projects in Shanghai, a publicly funded, community-based model aligned with the WHO Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025, designed to enhance support for older adults with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. The article outlines the design and governance of the initiative launched in 2019, which integrates nonpharmacological, psychosocial interventions such as cognitive training, social engagement and culturally adapted activities delivered through local agencies. It reviews implementation processes, including funding mechanisms, evaluation frameworks and partnerships, as well as participant feedback collected across multiple projects. By 2023, the initiative had expanded citywide, with high levels of reported satisfaction and perceived usefulness among participants, while identifying variability in implementation quality and limitations in evaluation practices. The analysis highlights key lessons, including the importance of culturally relevant, person-centred approaches, the role of sustained public financing and the need for stronger collaboration with academic institutions to support evidence-based practice. Intended for policy-makers and public health practitioners, it underscores the value of standardized protocols and robust evaluation systems to ensure quality, scalability and sustainability of community-based dementia care.
112
117
Keywords
Lessons from the field, China, Dementia, Community Health Services, Long-Term Care, Health Planning, Aging, Cognitive Dysfunction, Social Support, Quality of Life, Health Promotion, Program Evaluation, Activities of Daily Living, Disabled Persons, Caregivers, Urban Population, Public Policy, Health Services Accessibility, organization ans administration, rehabilitation, therapy, methods