Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide (World Health Organization, 2020). With nearly 10 million new cases of dementia each year in the world, this means there is one new case every 3.2 seconds (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2020).
Approximately 50 million people have dementia, Alzheimer being the most common form of dementia. If this amount of people are suffering from the disease, at least one person in their lives is assisting the patient which means that at least 100 million people around the world are affected by a form of dementia each year. These numbers are alarming considering that of these 50 million people suffering a form of dementia, nearly 60% live in low and middle income countries (World Health Organization, 2020).
The ability to afford satisfactory care for these 60% low income patients and families is cumbersome, sometimes impossible. A 2018 C.A.R.E. Study concluded (Christiansen, 2018):
The total number of people with dementia is projected to reach 82 million in 2030 and 152 by 2050. (World Health Organization, 2020). The incidence and prevalence of dementia is something that must be given great significance by global leaders and international organizations as the numbers are drastically increasing with economic resources, especially during COVID-19, drastically reducing finances and resources for families.
