Empty promises and blunt tools: Lack of funding stalls dementia progress in Cayman Islands

Caribbean nations call for urgent action on dementia following skyrocketing dementia forecasts and stalling progress in the region 

• The Caribbean is set to see dementia cases rise by 155 per cent forecast by 2050
• is the 7^th leading cause of death globally and the 3^rd in the Americas
• In the Cayman Islands limited data exists on how many people live with dementia currently
• Only 16 per cent per cent of Caribbean countries and territories^[2] have made any progress in developing National Dementia Plans, most of which have inadequate funding
• Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and national Alzheimer’s associations across the region are uniting to call for urgent action as most Caribbean countries are yet to see a single fully funded and implemented National Dementia Plan 

George Town – 23 January 2023: Despite recent statistics showing that dementia prevalence is set to increase in the Caribbean by 155 per cent by 2050, regional progress in tackling the neurodegenerative condition is far too slow, say Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the global federation for 105 Alzheimer’s and dementia associations across the world.

Only 16 per cent of Caribbean countries and territories have made progress in developing a National Dementia Plan, most of which have inadequate funding. 

ADI is calling for the public across the Caribbean to urge their governments to take urgent action on dementia, teaming up with Alzheimer’s associations in Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago to launch a regional campaign ‘What’s Your Plan’ (#WhatsYourPlan). 

Urgent action is required now: Dementia care is a human right 

While a few countries in the region, like the Dominican Republic and Cuba have implemented National Dementia Plans, unfortunately most are without adequate funding. The Caribbean ADI members participating in the #WhatsYourPlan campaign are yet to have any fully funded, implemented National Dementia Plan in their countries. 

Dorothy Davis, Chair of The Alzheimer’s Associations of the Cayman Islands (ADACI), says the Cayman Islands have made great strides in educating the community that dementia not only affects older persons.

“Many activities are centered around seniors that of course excludes many persons like Ian living with dementia. One of the long-term goals of ADACI is to have a facility that will provide activities for persons with early to moderate dementia.  We will only be able to achieve this with the help of corporate sponsorship or our government and a National Dementia Plan.”

Paola Barbarino, ADI’s CEO, says developing, funding, and implementing National Dementia Plans is essential to improving health outcomes for people living in the Caribbean with dementia.

“A National Dementia Plan is a vital step in helping those living with dementia to have access to the support and services they need to live well, for longer,” says Barbarino. “Access to support and a care plan, including care at home and in community settings, at-home adaptations, and respite for carers, alongside medical treatments, are vital for people living with dementia, as well as their carers and family.”

“By denying St Lucia and those across the region this support, governments are doing a disservice to their communities,” says Barbarino. “All people living with dementia in the Caribbean deserve access to the kinds of support and services a National Dementia Plan makes available. It’s their human right.”

As the world’s population gets older, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is rapidly increasing, threatening to overwhelm health services in many countries. In 2019, dementia was ranked the 3rd leading cause of death in the Americas, accounting for over 390,000 deaths.

ADI is calling on people living in Caribbean countries participating in the #WhatsYourPlan campaign to urge their governments to develop a National Dementia Plan that features, improvements in care for those living with dementia, support for carers and to implement key policies to help delay or reduce up to 40 per cent of the possible number of cases of dementia in the future. 

“We’re talking with the various Ministries of Health, Age & Social Support in many Caribbean countries, and while in some cases it can lead to progress it is often too slow. For a condition like dementia, time is of the absolute essence. People cannot wait,” says Paola Barbarino. “We need people from all over the Caribbean to speak up for people with dementia so that their governments might actually listen and act.”

Empty promises and blunt tools: Lack of funding stalling progress in the Caribbean

While some progress has been made in developing National Dementia Plans in the Caribbean, Paola Barbarino, ADI Chief Executive Officer, says that a lack of funding for these plans means many communities are missing out.

“A National Dementia Plan is a government’s best tool for preparing for this looming global health crisis,” says Barbarino. “Despite some progress to develop plans in a few Caribbean nations, without adequate funding to implement them, these plans are laying unused on the desks of bureaucracy across the region – more empty promises, and blunt tools.”

“Continued inaction now will lead to much greater health, care and societal challenges in managing dementia later,” continues Barbarino. “Governments must have robust dementia strategies funded and in place, to save healthcare systems from being overwhelmed as dementia cases rise in the future.”

Over 740,000 people: While progress stalls, the number of people in the Caribbean living with dementia continues to soar

The latest estimates show that there will be over 740,000 people living with dementia in the Caribbean by 2050.

Jaysee Taylor Downs, the sole caregiver and family provider based in the Cayman Islands says, “My husband Ian Haughton was formally diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 55. Ian was a Project Manager for a large construction company, and he was the major breadwinner for the family, now due to him not being able to work I am now working two jobs to make ends meet.” 

“At times I have to leave Ian alone as I do not have and cannot afford a caregiver for him.  From time to time, I have the help of my brothers who themselves have their own work.  Ian is just so bored and frustrated about being left alone and not being able to come outdoors as we live on the third floor of an apartment building.  The Cayman Islands is in need of day-care facilities that persons with dementia can go to engage in activities and meet other persons who are going through the same issues as themselves.”

Research has found that the greatest risk factors for dementia in the Caribbean include Cardiovascular health, diabetes, family history, older age, education. Further, women with lower levels of education in rural areas are overrepresented in dementia statistics in the Caribbean. 

Risk reduction should be designed with a life-course approach in mind, targeting both older and younger populations, with a focus on the modifiable 12 risk factors estimated to contribute to 40 per cent of the cases of those living with dementia.

^[1] Caribbean territories with Alzheimer’s associations participating in ADI’s ‘What’s Your Plan’  indicated in bold: Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Aruba,Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and United States Virgin Islands.